Real Madrid 'could change its mind on Trent Alexander-Arnold' because of one player

Liverpool may have just been boosted in its hopes of keeping Trent Alexander-Arnold following reports that Real Madrid could change its mind on signing him next summer.

The Reds right-back remains out of contract at the end of the current campaign and will leave on a free transfer even if he does not agree to new terms at Anfield. Because of this, Real Madrid has been strongly linked with a move for him in 2025.

There have even been fears that the Spanish giant could swoop for the 26-year-old as early as January following a season-ending injury to first-choice right-back Dani Carvajal, although there is next to no chance of Liverpool sanctioning such a deal.

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However, recent reports from Spain suggest that Real Madrid could, in fact, completely scupper its plans to sign Alexander-Arnold next year, despite being able to offer him a pre-contract agreement as early as January.

That's because the emergence of 17-year-old right-back Jesus Fortea has made club chiefs realize they may already have their long-term solution to the role at the club.

According to Spanish outlet Marca, Real Madrid could now 'abandon' its plan to sign Alexander-Arnold as a result. adding that club officials may question whether he is needed if Fortea were to “explode” onto the scene before the end of the season.

Fortea is yet to make his senior bow for Los Blancos but is set to remain with the first-team for the foreseeable future, operating as Lucas Vazquez's back-up following Dani Carvajal's season-ending injury.

The teenager, who is notable for his strength, was signed from Atletico Madrid's youth setup in 2022 and has three appearances for the Under-19's in the UEFA Youth League this season, providing the assist for the only goal of the game in September's 1-0 victory over Stuttgart.

Fortea is also a Spain U17 international and has 12 appearances to his name since making his debut two years ago. He previously featured for both the U15 and U16 sides, scoring once in eight games for the latter.

Should this news be true, then Liverpool can only hope that Fortea does make his big breakthrough this season and ends any interest Real Madrid had in signing Alexander-Arnold next summer.

The Reds are yet to make a serious breakthrough in negotiations with the academy graduate but remain relaxed over the situation, although hopes of tying him down to a fresh deal certainly feel as though they've started to ebb away in recent weeks.