Real Madrid star Lucas Vazquez was clear that he and his team-mates will not be publicly discussing the possibility of Trent Alexander-Arnold joining the club over the coming months.

The Spanish giants are reportedly willing to pay £20 million ($25 million) for Liverpool’s right-back, and those reports were followed by a tough performance by Alexander-Arnold in Saturday’s Premier League game against Manchester United.

Although a mid-season move looks unlikely, a summer switch still seems a real possibility for the 26-year-old. Real are on the lookout for a new right-back and even considered a January move for Diogo Dalot given Dani Carvajal’s season-ending injury.

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Lucas Vazquez has often been the man to fill in on the right-hand side of defence in his absence and was asked about the possibility of Alexander-Arnold joining him at the Bernabeu next season.

“You're asking about a player who isn't at Madrid and that's something I can't answer,” he responded during a press conference ahead of the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Mallorca.

While Vazquez refused to be drawn on the topic, that the transfer saga has now got as far as Real players being asked about it does feel significant.

Alexander-Arnold is free to negotiate with Real now given his contract at Liverpool has entered its final six months, while Jamie Carragher recently insinuated that Real’s decision to bid for the England international in January may have been a decision made in conjunction with Alexander-Arnold’s representatives.

Meanwhile, Arne Slot defended the player’s nightmare performance against United and said it was just a rare blip. “We were all disappointed by the way we played and the result. Not just Trent. He didn't play his best game but it's not the first time in his life,” the Dutchman explained ahead of the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.

“He's played so many games well for this club. Like for some others. We'll train today. They know if you play 50-60 games, once in a while, you don't have the best performance.”

Alexander-Arnold was dropped to the bench for the midweek trip to Tottenham Hotspur, perhaps unsurprisingly given the need to rotate. Conor Bradley was selected in his place having recently returned from injury.