Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has theorized that talks have taken place between Real Madrid and Trent Alexander-Arnold's representatives - as he predicted it is a "matter of time" before the Reds defender signs for Los Blancos.

The 26-year-old full-back has been heavily linked with a move to Santiago Bernabeu in recent months after entering the final year of his contract at Anfield. It has been reported that Madrid chiefs have now made an offer to sign the homegrown star in January, according to The Mirror.

The Liverpool academy product is within his rights to speak with potential foreign suitors at the turn of the year and can depart Merseyside for free at the end of the current season. However, the aforementioned report contends that Madrid chiefs would be prepared to part with cash to secure the player's services in the next month.

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Madrid's advances have been rebuffed by Liverpool at this stage, as Arne Slot sets his sights on leading the club to the Premier League title at the first attempt. Now, former Reds forward Owen has waded into the discourse surrounding the future of Alexander-Arnold with his boyhood club.

Taking to Twitter/X, the pundit opined that the right-back's camp has likely already spoken with Madrid chiefs over a potential switch. In fact, the retired striker has been left in no doubt that the England international will eventually sign for the European champions - irrespective of when any deal is completed.

Seeing the news as a signal of Madrid's intent, he asserted: "The very fact that Real Madrid have now made their intentions clear towards signing Trent Alexander Arnold leads me to believe that it’s only a matter of time before he signs for them. If he was going to sign a contract extension, Madrid wouldn’t have officially made their move. Secretive talks will have taken place. Huge news."

Owen is well-placed to offer his perspective on Alexander-Arnold's situation, having left Liverpool for Real Madrid back in 2004. Spending a single season in the Spanish capital, the forward was unable to secure a return to Anfield - despite openly favoring a move to Merseyside in the summer of 2005

Instead moving to Newcastle United, the former Kop hero eventually had a stint with arch rivals Manchester United before finishing his career at Stoke City. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Liverpool.com previously, the ex-Reds striker admitted that Alexander-Arnold could risk losing "control" on the destiny of his career by departing Anfield.

He said: "You can lose control, and once you move once, it's almost then you're out there on the open market and it can be a strange feeling and a strange place to be when you're not where you feel like you belong, where you grew up, where your loved, and where you're just ingrained into the fabric of the club. Which is exactly where I was at that point."

He later warned the Liverpool defender: "Then when you're 30 and if you're not playing as well and you've then got to move from Real Madrid and you're desperate to move back home but Liverpool have got a new right-back, you've then got to move to another club and it's 'Oh my word, I didn't, ever envisage that'."