Real Madrid are willing to pay £20million to sign Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold in January, according to reports. 

The full back, 26, is out of contract in the summer and Mail Sport have reported on how the Spanish champions have confidence they can tempt him to join them.

But with veteran right back Dani Carvajal injured, Carlo Ancelotti’s men made an attempt to try to sign Alexander-Arnold on Tuesday. It was a club-to-club approach rather than a formal offer or monetary bid that was swiftly rebuffed.

The Premier League leaders have been in dialogue with Alexander-Arnold and his camp and have a desire to extend his contract – as well as the deals of Mohamed Salah and captain Virgil van Dijk.

Alexander-Arnold has a big decision to make over his future but up until this point has given Liverpool no indication that he wants to leave.

Liverpool rejected an offer from Real Madrid for star right back Trent Alexander-Arnold

However, reports claim Carlo Ancelotti’s side are prepared to bid £20m for him this month 

Dani Carvajal, who is Madrid’s first-choice right back, is not expected to play again this season

Despite being just 26, Alexander-Arnold is one of Liverpool’s most experienced players.

The local lad, who has been on the books at Anfield for two decades after joining the club at the age of six, is currently 10th on the list of Liverpool players with the most Premier League appearances (243).

Alexander-Arnold made his first-team debut in 2016 and has since racked up 333 appearances across all competitions.

He has won eight trophies with the Reds, including the Premier League, Champions League and Club World Cup.

As well as winning the Champions League in 2019, Alexander-Arnold has twice been a losing finalist against Real Madrid – in 2018 and again in 2022.

He is well on his way to cementing legendary status at Liverpool and is the subject of a giant mural on the corner of Anfield Road, where his image is accompanied by the quote: ‘I’m just a normal lad from Liverpool whose dream has come true.’

In a recent interview with Men in Blazers, Alexander-Arnold was asked what his dreams looked like now. He replied: ‘Of course, winning more trophies. But on a personal level it is building a legacy. That is something that is important.’

Asked what he meant by that, he clarified: ‘Just being spoken about in the highest regard, especially after you’ve finished [playing]. In 10 or 15 years, if I’m spoken about as one of the best right backs or the best right back then that’s what I’m playing for now and using it as motivation.’ 

Alexander-Arnold pictured (left) in action against Madrid in the 2022 Champions League final

Boss Arne Slot, pictured during Liverpool’s 5-0 win at West Ham, is keen to keep his star man

But Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is famously very persuasive when he wants to be

Local lad Alexander-Arnold is the subject of a giant mural close to Liverpool’s Anfield stadium

Alexander-Arnold is not the only Liverpool star with just six months remaining on his current contract. Centre back and captain Van Dijk is in the same position, as is lead frontman Salah.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot recently conceded that he personally does not have the power to ensure that the trio stay put. 

Slot explained: ‘I think I have a lot of control over what they do. If they’re on a training pitch, if they’re in a meeting with me, but talking about the private lives, I don’t have control about them. So that was the situation I had a year ago.

‘That’s been the situation as long as I’m a manager, but I have control to a certain extent over them from what I expect from them on the pitch. And I’m really pleased to see what Virgil brings, what Trent brings and what Mo brings.

Speaking ahead of the January transfer window opening, Slot continued: ‘Now the positive thing for me is that for four or five months it was only Trent, Mo and Virgil, what you guys were talking about. And I assume – and don’t let me down now please, – that people now are going to talk about how we’re going for a player and who we are going to bring in the upcoming month and which other player is going to leave.

‘So I get some other questions as well. Not only about these [three].’