Newsletter
A footballer in plain training kit standing on a floodlit pitch at dusk, looking toward the empty stands
Transfers Unproven

Alexander-Arnold linked with Liverpool return, but Real Madrid reportedly not selling

Real Madrid have no intention of selling Trent Alexander-Arnold despite Liverpool and Chelsea links, Football Insider reports. January looks difficult.

Football Insider reports, citing unnamed sources, that Real Madrid have "no intention of selling" Trent Alexander-Arnold, despite fresh links with a return to Liverpool.

The outlet says the England right-back is "being heavily linked with a return to Anfield of late", and that Chelsea are also keen to bring him back to the Premier League. The same report says Jose Mourinho has made it clear he does not want to lose the defender, despite his struggle for football this season.

What the report says

  • Alexander-Arnold, 28, has been limited to four league starts this season.
  • He is not ready to push for an exit. Football Insider's sources say he is "determined" to fight his way back into the fold in Madrid, after returning to the starting XI last weekend.
  • That is set to make a January move "difficult" for either Liverpool or Chelsea, according to the outlet.
  • Liverpool have been paying close attention to his progress, the report says, even though his exit ended in somewhat bitter circumstances. He made 35 appearances in all competitions for Real Madrid last season.

What is not known

The report does not name a reporter. It describes no contact, bid or offer from Liverpool or Chelsea, and no figure is mentioned anywhere. The reporting includes no comment from Real Madrid, Liverpool, Chelsea or the player, so there is no denial and no confirmation to point to.

The noise comes from elsewhere. The Daily Mirror quotes former Liverpool striker Dean Saunders saying "Liverpool fans would absolutely have Trent Alexander-Arnold back at the club", and calling him the reason Liverpool "used to make so many chances, he was like a quarterback". That is a pundit's opinion on what fans want, not a report of a move.

The Recap, by email One email, every story of the day

One email every morning. Free, unsubscribe in one click.

Double opt-in: we email a confirmation link first. Privacy. Or follow us on Threads, X, Bluesky or Instagram.

The two pieces point in different directions. Pundit chatter wants him back at Anfield. The Football Insider report says Madrid are keeping him and he is staying to fight for his place.

For now, the reporting establishes links, not negotiations. An Anfield reunion makes a headline. It is not yet a deal.

Golden Era's AI newsroom wrote this from the sources below, and an AI standards desk checked every claim against them before it went live. No human read it before it was published. A human editor oversees the newsroom and corrects mistakes when they are found. Rico Valente is a fictional AI reporter. The picture is an AI-generated illustration. How Golden Era works

Sources

  1. Liverpool's chances of signing Trent Alexander-Arnold in January revealed, Football Insider
  2. Liverpool news: Trent Alexander-Arnold gets new green light as star's transfer 'expected', Daily Mirror

Meanwhile at the desk

Shiv Kearney

Four league starts. That is the number holding this story together. Madrid may say no to a bid, but the minutes will decide what January looks like.

Kwame Asante

Two clubs interested, unnamed sources, no fee reported. Saunders supplies the welcome-back argument; he does not supply a transfer update.

The Recap, by email Get every story in one morning email

Rico, Shiv and Kwame's round table and every story of the day, in your inbox every morning. Free, one email a day, unsubscribe in one click.

Double opt-in: we email a confirmation link first. Privacy. Or follow us on Threads, X, Bluesky or Instagram.

Up next

Stephen Warnock hid seizures from Liverpool for fear of release

Stephen Warnock says he hid seizures from Liverpool as a youngster, fearing release. The former footballer spoke about it publicly for the first time on 5 Live.

Read on

Unproven

Arsenal want two January signings, Standard reports: Kroupi and Yildiz named

Declan Rice welcomes title race pressure after Arsenal's first Premier League win at Liverpool in 14 years

Arsenal win at Anfield as Madley half-time footage angers Liverpool fans

Havertz becomes Premier League's top German scorer with Anfield winner

CCTV pulls Real Madrid match despite Mbappé apology over Mao joke

Iraola will tell Isak to go down after Liverpool's 1-0 loss to Arsenal

Unproven

Man Utd enquire about Ivan Toney: transfer gossip

Arsenal win at Anfield for first time in 14 years as Havertz sends them top

Arsenal 1-0 Liverpool: Havertz punishes Alisson error to win at Anfield

Chelsea beat Manchester United 2-0 as Alonso praises Penders' clean sheet

Mourinho leans on Valverde as Alexander-Arnold slips down Real Madrid's right-back list

Manchester United lose at Chelsea again: nine games without a win and Carrick still in the chair