Real Madrid will “back out of a January move” for Trent Alexander-Arnold, choosing instead to sign the Liverpool star for free when his contract ends.

Real Madrid will abandon their efforts to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold in January, opting instead to wait for a free transfer at the end of the season, according to reports. The English defender is one of three Liverpool stars at risk of leaving for nothing, with his contract, along with those of Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, set to expire soon.

Liverpool is in talks with all three players to extend their contracts but faces strong competition from top European clubs, with Real Madrid being long-time admirers of Alexander-Arnold. The Champions League holders are leading the race to sign the highly regarded full-back and have intensified efforts to convince him that a move to Madrid is the right choice.

A long-term injury to Daniel Carvajal has led to defensive issues for Carlo Ancelotti, and Real Madrid had initially planned to pursue Alexander-Arnold in January. However, they have now decided to postpone their move, as reported by The Telegraph.

At 26, Alexander-Arnold is one of the Premier League’s most valuable players, but with his contract nearing its end, he could be available for a reduced fee during the upcoming transfer wi

ndow.