Trent Alexander-Arnold has reportedly verbally agreed to join Real Madrid in the summer, in a move that would spell the end of his 21-year association with Liverpool.

Alexander-Arnold will become a free agent when his current contract at Liverpool expires at the end of the season and he has been the subject of strong links with Madrid for several months.

Liverpool finds itself in a tricky situation regarding its attempts to convince Alexander-Arnold to sign a new deal at Anfield, as the club is juggling negotiations with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, whose contracts are also up in the summer.

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Madrid-based sports daily Marca, which is viewed by many to be a Real Madrid mouthpiece, reports that it is now a case of when rather than if Alexander-Arnold will move to the Bernabeu.

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The England international will reportedly be a Madrid player by July 1 at the very earliest, while Los Blancos are said to remain keen on the prospect of landing him this month.

Madrid approached Liverpool earlier this month about the possibility of signing Alexander-Arnold during the January transfer window, but the proposition was swiftly rebuffed.

It is claimed that Alexander-Arnold is the only player that Madrid is interested in signing this month, with the Spanish giant otherwise prepared to keep its powder dry regarding other additions until the summer transfer window.

Madrid has struggled with injuries in defense this season, with Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao and David Alaba both wrestling with serious knee problems.

Alexander-Arnold came under scrutiny following his performance in the recent 2-2 draw with Manchester United, but Liverpool head coach Arne Slot defended the full-back last week when it was suggested that opposition teams might be targeting their attacks toward the right side of Liverpool's defense.

"I do see a certain pattern in the goals we concede but I don't see the pattern if it is about Trent. Not at all," said Slot. "Trent has had one difficult game for us [in Sunday's 2-2 draw with Manchester United at Anfield] and maybe a few that were OK to good. Mainly, he has had great games when he played for us this season."