Liverpool are reportedly bracing themselves for a January transfer offer from Real Madrid for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Los Blancos will assess their options in the coming days following a season-ending injury to first-choice right-back Dani Carvajal.
Carvajal suffered a triple knee ligament rupture in Real Madrid's 2-0 La Liga win over Villarreal on October 5 and his recovery is expected to stretch beyond the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
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Carlo Ancelotti confirmed post-game there will be no move made by the club until the start of 2025 with Alexander-Arnold a long term option.
Trent Alexander-Arnold transfer update, Liverpool contract
Alexander-Arnold effectively has two options in 2025, with his Liverpool contract expiring at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, and an offer on the table from Real Madrid.
Liverpool are keen to tie the England star down to a new contract at Anfield, but there has not been a firm move made on this, as his contract ticks down.
If no deal has been agreed by the start of 2025, Alexander-Arnold is free to negotiate a free transfer with non-Premier League clubs, but he cannot complete a move until next summer.
However, as per reports from Catalan outlet Diario Sport, a third option has now emerged, with Real Madrid considering a January transfer offer.
That would require the Spanish giants to pay a transfer fee to Liverpool, which the Reds are unlikely to accept at the mid-season juncture, despite the desperation from Madrid.
Only a significant fee, potentially around £40m ($55m) would persuade Liverpool to consider a controversial move, and only if they are assured of Alexander-Arnold's plan to leave in the summer anyway.
Can Real Madrid sign a Dani Carvajal replacement?
La Liga rules stipulate Real Madrid can sign a replacement for Carvajal outside the transfer window but any deal must meet certain criteria.
In order to be granted an emergency transfer, Real Madrid must prove the severity and recovery timeline of Carvajal's injury, and de-register him as a La Liga player for the remainder of the season.
Any player signed must also currently be a free agent, not contracted or linked in any way to another club, and the potential new player's salary must not exceed 80% of the injured one's deal.
Barcelona have already activated this option in recent weeks with Wojciech Szczesny brought in to replace the injured Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
