Trent Alexander-Arnold nears Real Madrid deal but one hurdle remains

The Liverpool star has long been expected to swap Anfield for the Bernabeu on a free transfer when his contract expires this summer

Trent Alexander-Arnold is close to finalising a deal to join Real Madrid this summer.

The Liverpool right-back has long been linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu and he is expected join Madrid this summer when his current contract expires.

The 26-year-old is in talks over a five-year deal worth more than £200,000 a week, along with a major signing-on bonus. The broad financial package has been accepted but the final details of how that salary is structured, regarding salary and bonuses, still needs to be agreed.

Alexander-Anrold could become the latest star player to join the Spanish giants on a free transfer, with Kylian Mbappe, David Alaba and Antonio Rüdiger all joining as free agents in recent years.

Alexander-Arnold made his Liverpool debut as an 18-year-old in 2016. His honours with the club include the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and Club World Cup and he is on course to add a second league crown this season with Arne Slot’s side currently 12 points clear at the top of the table.

The England international, who came through the ranks at Liverpool and has been at the Premier League club for more than two decades, has been able to discuss terms with overseas clubs since January.

Alexander-Arnold is one of three key Liverpool players out of contract this summer, with the futures of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk still unclear.

Alexander-Arnold had previously admitted he could see himself playing out his entire career at Anfield in a conversation with GQ in 2020.

(PA Wire)

"I can, yeah," Alexander-Arnold said when pushed over whether he could envisage himself as a one-club player. "It is not something I have ever really thought about. I have always loved Liverpool; I have always supported them.

"I have always played for them, so I have never had that reason to think about it. Still, now I wouldn't sit there in my room and daydream about playing somewhere else. Right now, I am a Liverpool player, I love the club more than anything.”

Alexander-Arnold then said as recently as last September he still held ambitions to captain the Reds, with Virgil van Dijk leading Arne Slot’s side this season.

"I have always said I want to captain the club. That is a goal of mine, whether that happens is out of my hands,” he told Sky Sports before discussing the key issues in deciding his future.

Alexander-Arnold is friends with Jude Bellingham from their time playing for England (The FA via Getty Images)

"The most important thing is always trophies. I want to win trophies. We were close to the title last season and we got a cup. The [quadruple] was on for a while I suppose.

“This season we are looking really good, it is still early days, but we need a lot of consistency. It will be difficult but we are looking to win as many trophies as we can."

Should Alexander-Arnold move to the Bernabeu, he would link up with friend and England team-mate Jude Bellingham, while also following in the footsteps of other former England internationals to link up with Los Blancos, including David Beckham, Steve McManaman, Michael Owen and Jonathan Woodgate.

Liverpool have declined to comment on the reports.