Liverpool transfer news as Trent Alexander-Arnold reports continue and new midfielder linked

Liverpool enter the international break in a strong positive after the club's 2-0 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday. Manchester City's surprising 2-1 defeat to Brighton sees the Reds five points clear atop the Premier League table.

Expect rumors to swirl over the next two weeks as the club prepares itself for the final international break ahead of what could be a busy January transfer window. Considering the club spent peanuts in Arne Slot's first transfer window with the club, money could be available for the Dutch manager - especially if Liverpool choose to sell a certain key asset in their back line.

Here is the Liverpool.com verdict on the transfer gossip emerging ahead of a busy two-week stretch:

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Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

The Alexander-Arnold-to-Real Madrid rumors are intensifying as Los Blancos deal with an injury crisis. Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti didn't rule out spending money in January to address the crisis when asked about the potential impact of Eder Miltao's reported ACL injury on transfer plans.

"We'll assess it in the coming months," the Italian said. "Right now, there's nothing we can do. We'll evaluate what we can do in January."

Ancelotti's words sound ominous considering a recent Football Insider report about the possibility of Liverpool agreeing to sell Alexander-Arnold in January rather than lose him for free on a pre-contract. The same source indicated that the likelihood of the move happening anyway is a "very strong possibility."

Liverpool.com says: If Trent Alexander-Arnold is set on leaving his boyhood club, there's not much Liverpool can do to stop him. The Reds might as well sell him for a price and hope the Reds don't draw Real Madrid in the knockout stages of the Champions League. Madrid is desperate for defensive cover, and Liverpool could fetch a pretty penny.

Hugo Larsson (Frankfurt)

German transfer insider Floridan Plettenberg reported this weekend that Liverpool are amongst a trio of Premier League sides - including Arsenal and Tottenham - to be tracking Eintracht Frankfurt's 20-year-old holding midfielder Hugo Larsson.

The Swedish international joined the German side for €9 million ($9.7 million) last summer and recently extended his contract to 2029 (without a release clause). Plettenberg indicated Larsson is said to feel "comfortable" at his current club.

The 20-year-old is a key part of a surging Frankfurt side up to third place in the Bundesliga. However, he left his club's Sunday 3-2 victory over Stuttgart with a knock in the 56th minute.

Liverpool.com says: Larsson might have a hard time getting into the Liverpool team at first. Should a key midfielder go down before the transfer window, though, Liverpool may want to test Frankfurt's resolve for the talented Swedish player. After all, a strong start to the 2024-25 season shouldn't eliminate the club's search for promising talent.