Real Madrid have approached Liverpool to ask how much they want to release Trent Alexander-Arnold early from his contract so he can play for them in the Club World Cup.
The approach was made on Tuesday morning with Liverpool now considering their response the day after Alexander-Arnold announced on social media he was ending a 20-year association with the club.
The right-back will join Real on a five-year contract but, officially, his deal with Liverpool does not expire until June 30. That would rule him out of the group stages of Club World Cup, with Real’s opening game on June 18 against Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.
Fifa have implemented two summer transfer windows to help teams at the Club World Cup, with the Saudi clubs in particular hoping to benefit, allowing players to be signed from June 1 to 10 before a second window opens on June 16.
Alexander-Arnold is yet to confirm he is joining Real but it is known the Spanish champions will be his destination and, in any case, their approach basically confirms that.
It remains to be seen what kind of fee Liverpool will demand if they agree to Real signing the 26-year-old early. Real are set to follow up their initial approach with an offer with sources in Spain suggesting it could be between £500,000 and £850,000. It also remains to be seen whether Real would cover the final weeks of Alexander-Arnold’s salary at Liverpool.
If Liverpool refuse to let the England international leave early then it is likely that Fifa will still allow Real to register him for the latter stages of the tournament which ends with a final on July 13.
Clubs playing in the Club World Cup can use a special in-tournament window between June 27 and July 31 (players’ contracts officially end on June 30).
Given the scale of the prize money at stake – the winners will receive around £94 million – then Liverpool can be expected to demand a reasonable fee for Alexander-Arnold who will be a marquee signing for Real this summer and will be paraded by them during the competition.
Real Madrid have approached Liverpool to ask how much they want to release Trent Alexander-Arnold early from his contract so he can play for them in the Club World Cup.
The approach was made on Tuesday morning with Liverpool now considering their response the day after Alexander-Arnold announced on social media he was ending a 20-year association with the club.
The right-back will join Real on a five-year contract but, officially, his deal with Liverpool does not expire until June 30. That would rule him out of the group stages of Club World Cup, with Real’s opening game on June 18 against Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.
Fifa have implemented two summer transfer windows to help teams at the Club World Cup, with the Saudi clubs in particular hoping to benefit, allowing players to be signed from June 1 to 10 before a second window opens on June 16.
Alexander-Arnold is yet to confirm he is joining Real but it is known the Spanish champions will be his destination and, in any case, their approach basically confirms that.
It remains to be seen what kind of fee Liverpool will demand if they agree to Real signing the 26-year-old early. Real are set to follow up their initial approach with an offer with sources in Spain suggesting it could be between £500,000 and £850,000. It also remains to be seen whether Real would cover the final weeks of Alexander-Arnold’s salary at Liverpool.
If Liverpool refuse to let the England international leave early then it is likely that Fifa will still allow Real to register him for the latter stages of the tournament which ends with a final on July 13.
Clubs playing in the Club World Cup can use a special in-tournament window between June 27 and July 31 (players’ contracts officially end on June 30).
Given the scale of the prize money at stake – the winners will receive around £94 million – then Liverpool can be expected to demand a reasonable fee for Alexander-Arnold who will be a marquee signing for Real this summer and will be paraded by them during the competition.
