Liverpool already knows Real Madrid is likely to play a big part in its plans over the next few months. It seems the Spanish giant could also throw a spanner into the Reds’ transfer plans in the summer.

Real’s interest in Trent Alexander-Arnold is well documented at this point. While Liverpool and Arne Slot will be breathing a sigh of relief that they didn’t follow up with another bid during the January transfer window - having had an opening offer turned down before it had even opened - everyone at Anfield will know that is far from the end of the matter.

Alexander-Arnold’s future is still undecided, and as things stand, he will become a free agent at the end of the season. What’s more, he’s able to negotiate a pre-contract agreement right now, and reports have suggested that Real has already made progress on that front.

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Liverpool will have a lot of work to do if it is to prevent Real nabbing their vice-captain. Even if they do, the Bernabeu club still has the potential to ruin some of the Reds’ transfer plans.

According to Liverpool reporter David Lynch, Girona left-back Miguel Gutierrez is being looked at as the Reds eye up a new left-back in the summer. The 23-year-old has attracted plenty of attention over the past couple of years, with Arsenal, Manchester City and Bayern Munich having been linked last summer.

Gutierrez is already well known to Slot, with the Liverpool boss having admitted the defender has caught his eye in the past. Should the Reds choose to act on their interest, they will have a clear way in, with a $36m (£29m/€35m) having been widely reported.

Real though could ruin Liverpool’s chances of signing him. Gutierrez made the move to Girona from the Bernabeu back in 2022, and Los Blancos have a $9.3m (£7.5m/€9m) buyback clause.

That could prove to be an attractive proposition for Real considering Alphonso Davies, who had been tipped for a move to the Spanish capital, now looks set to extend his stay at Bayern Munich.

Liverpool.com says: Gutierrez is a player that should be on Liverpool’s radar - not least because he would be a cheaper option than the likes of Milos Kerkez or Rayan Ait-Nouri. Other than that though, he has impressed over the last couple of years and will no doubt be looked at by some big clubs sooner rather than later.

The problem is if Real is one of those clubs. Even for a club that seems to be making a habit of taking players when their contracts have been run down, $9.3m will be absolutely no issue, and Gutierrez would probably relish a return to the Bernabeu.