Why Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid transfer rumours are about to ramp up as Liverpool wait

Real Madrid finished their 4-0 win over Osasuna this weekend without a recognised right-back as their injury issues continue to mount. Dani Carvajal ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament, external collateral ligament and popliteus tendon in his right knee last month, and his replacement, Lucas Vazquez, now also has a hip injury.

Madrid were forced into two substitutions during the first half of Saturday afternoon's match at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Eder Militao and Rodrygo unable to continue. A third change came at half-time when Luke Modric came on for Vazquez.

Federico Valverde filled in at full-back next to debutant central defender Raul Asencio, who Carlo Ancelotti turned to when withdrawing Militao. Madrid have already carried out tests on the latter.

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They have confirmed that the Brazil international has completely ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while also damaging both meniscuses. Militao only returned in March after rupturing the ACL in his other knee during Madrid's opening game of last season.

Ancelotti has previously acknowledged that the defender was an option to replace Carvajal. However, the expectation is that he will now need at least nine months to recover after surgery.

The early diagnosis is not as severe for Vazquez, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that medical tests suggest the player will be out for three weeks. That timeline would mean that the full-back will not be fit for Madrid's visit to play Liverpool at Anfield in the Champions League later this month.

Neither will Rodrygo, who Romano reports will not return before the beginning of December because of a quad injury. Aurelien Tchouameni also looks likely to be absent after spraining his ankle midweek during their 3-1 defeat to Milan, which will seemingly see the midfielder miss the next month.

Thibaut Courtois also has an adductor injury in his left leg that has kept the goalkeeper out of their last three matches. However, he is likely to return after the international break.

Militao, meanwhile, will undoubtedly miss the visit to Anfield, while David Alaba is still recovering from his own ACL injury, training with a ball for the first time on Thursday. Madrid now have just five recognised first-team defenders: Asencio, Antonio Rudiger, Ferland Mendy, Fran Garcia and Jesus Vallejo.

Those issues will inevitably lead to renewed rumours in the Spanish media about Trent Alexander-Arnold's future this international break, especially since it is the last before the winter transfer window opens. Madrid having to finish their game against Osasuna without a recognised right-back on the pitch will only increase rumours that they are looking to bring in a new player in that position.

Alexander-Arnold has previously been linked with a move to Madrid, who reportedly see him as an option due to the fact his current contract expires at the end of this season and with the player yet to sign a new one. The ECHO understands Liverpool are keen to keep the right-back, however, and are still in talks over a potential new deal.

Asked whether these injuries made signings in the new year more likely for Real Madrid, Ancelotti said: "We'll assess it in the coming months. Right now, there's nothing we can do. We'll evaluate what we can do in January."