Liverpool face the prospect of losing Trent Alexander-Arnold as the defender attracts interest from Real Madrid. The 26-year-old's contract expires at the end of the season and the full-back is facing intense speculation over a free transfer to La Liga.

Arne Slot's side sit six points clear at the top of the Premier League and the Champions League with the uncertainty surrounding Alexander-Arnold, plus Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah barely impacting their form this term. Alexander-Arnold is into his second season as vice-captain after earning a promotion within the squad which saw Jurgen Klopp make him Van Dijk's deputy.

From January 1, the defender will be allowed to open talks with overseas clubs over a pre-contract agreement. For most of the season so far, Alexander-Arnold's performances have warranted praise - prompting the question over whether Liverpool should prioritise an extension.

READ MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold 'decides Liverpool future' in Real Madrid transfer bombshell

READ MORE: Michael Owen makes 'astonished' title prediction and shares Liverpool dressing room feeling

But as the months tick on, with no resolution as of yet, speculation is mounting and Real Madrid have emerged as one of the few contenders to land the England international. Here is the latest round-up on what Marca have said surrounding his future.

Alexander-Arnold 'wants Real Madrid move'

Spanish outlet Marca has claimed that Alexander-Arnold has told Liverpool of his intention to sign for Real Madrid. The 26-year-old has reportedly already outlined his terms ahead of the prospect of leaving his boyhood club.

Debate has raged on across Merseyside and among football channels over whether Alexander-Arnold wants to stay and become a Liverpool icon, following Steven Gerrard, or make the move to Real Madrid - as Steve McManaman and Michael Owen did during the 2000s.

The Liverpool full-back has already expressed his desire for his future not to be played out in the prying eyes of the media, as it hasn't throughout his time at Anfield. But the charm offensive from Spain continues with petrol being added to the roaring fire.

In the print edition, they published a front page on Saturday which read: "Alexander-Arnold quiere venir al Madrid. El jugador ya se lo ha comunicado al Liverpool," which roughly translates to, "Alexander-Arnold wants to come to Madrid. The player has already informed Liverpool."

Liverpool contract renewal 'unlikely'

Online, they suggest a renewal at Anfield is becoming "more and more unlikely" with the 25-year-old said to be seduced by the prospect of playing for the reigning Champions League and La Liga champions.

The claim comes amid Liverpool's pursuit of tying down the academy graduate for the immediate future with the tenure of Slot in its infancy.

Alexander-Arnold signed a four-year extension in 2021, since then he has shown no signs of his quality waning. During that period, he has pushed his way into the England spotlight and become a household Premier League name, and across Europe, signing a lucrative deal with sportswear giants Adidas.

Jude Bellingham connection

Prior to his Real Madrid move in 2023, Jude Bellingham was linked with a move to Liverpool from Borussia Dortmund. Following his astronomic rise as a teenager into the England set-up, the midfielder struck a chord with Liverpool duo Jordan Henderson and Alexander-Arnold.

As a result, it often became 'Agent Trent' or 'Agent Hendo' trying to lure one of the hottest prospects in Europe to Jurgen Klopp's side. As it happened, Los Blancos swooped in and handed Bellingham the famous number five shirt.

With the former Reds captain's influence on the international stage diminishing, it saw the burgeoning relationship between Bellingham and the Liverpool defender continue to flourish. Rumours of a move to Liverpool vanished, following the move to Spain, but during the European Championships in Germany last summer reports quickly switched to 'Agent Jude'.

In their report on Saturday, Marca suggests that Alexander-Arnold already knows Madrid very well, thanks to his close friendship with Bellingham. They claim that the Liverpool defender knows about the team and what it represents.

'The situation has reached its limit'

Marca claim that there is already an element that Liverpool chiefs are resigned to losing the full-back. They say that in recent months, directors have made several attempts to 'unblock' the situation.

However it has been said that Alexander-Arnold has already communicated his desire to the relevant bodies at Anfield.

But the decision remains in the hands of the Liverpool chiefs, Marca add. The Madrid-based publication is often a driving force for speculation and hot-off-the-press news regarding Europe's most successful club and they suggest that Liverpool are aware of the interest - and it is not a ploy by those representing the 26-year-old to wrangle a new deal.

No January deal planned

A January exit for Alexander-Arnold was never going to be likely. But Marca have moved to dispel the claim, despite Madrid's injury problems at the back - with Eder Militao and Daniel Carvajal out for the rest of the season.

Carlo Ancelotti's side have become masters at landing coups in the free market. Kylian Mbappe is the most recent example as they held out to land the Frenchman on a free transfer last summer, as they did with defensive linchpin Antonio Rudiger after he left Chelsea..

The likelihood, Marca say, is Real will continue to wait with relationships between the two clubs described as good as evidence when Liverpool rang their Spanish counterparts to ascertain whether the interest was genuine, supposedly.