BREAKING NEWS: Liverpool have been offered the chance to sign Aurelien Tchouameni under one condition.

Real Madrid is reportedly preparing to make an enticing offer to Liverpool in an attempt to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold. Rather than waiting for the 26-year-old’s contract at Anfield to run out next summer, which would allow them to secure him on a free transfer, reports from the Spanish outlet Sport suggest that the reigning Champions League holders may try to accelerate the transfer to January. This urgency is fueled by Dani Carvajal’s recent knee ligament injury, which has left Real Madrid in need of a replacement right-back.

While James Pearce, a well-known journalist, has been quick to dismiss these rumors, the Spanish media seems eager to keep the story alive. Another report has surfaced claiming that Real Madrid may be preparing a different kind of offer to tempt Liverpool.

According to this report, Real Madrid is ready to offer around €25 million (£20.9 million) for Alexander-Arnold in January. However, recognizing that this sum alone would be unlikely to persuade Liverpool to part with their star player, Real Madrid is willing to sweeten the deal by including Aurelien Tchouameni in a player-plus-cash arrangement. The French midfielder, who moved to Madrid from Monaco in 2022 for a hefty €100 million (£85 million), has had underwhelming performances recently, making him a potential candidate to be part of the deal.

Despite this, Real Madrid has ruled out including their Brazilian forward, Rodrygo, in any proposal, signaling that he remains a valuable asset they are not willing to part with.

Real Madrid’s willingness to offer Tchouameni might be seen as an interesting twist given that Liverpool had shown interest in signing him a couple of years ago before he chose to join the Spanish side. Nevertheless, this offer seems unlikely to sway Liverpool. The proposed cash sum of just over £20 million, even with the addition of Tchouameni, falls well short of the kind of deal that could convince Liverpool to part ways with Alexander-Arnold, who is not only crucial to the team but is also a product of their youth system and a key figure for the club.

For Real Madrid to think that Liverpool would entertain such an offer for a player of Trent’s importance seems audacious. The idea of letting go of their star right-back, especially with the prospect of only receiving a modest sum and a player who has struggled to make a significant impact at Real Madrid, is almost laughable from Liverpool’s perspective.

Many Liverpool fans and pundits are hoping that Alexander-Arnold will soon agree to a contract extension with the club, putting to rest all the speculation surrounding his future. He is an indispensable part of the team, and ensuring his long-term stay at Anfield would put an end to the constant rumors linking him with a move away. It would also allow the focus to shift back to his performances on the pitch, where he continues to be a vital asset for the club.

In light of these reports from Spain, it’s worth noting that they come during an international break when transfer activity is generally quiet. This tends to be a period ripe for speculation and rumors, which often lack substance. As a result, the latest claims about Real Madrid’s interest in Alexander-Arnold should be taken with caution. While the idea of a player-plus-cash deal involving Tchouameni may grab headlines, it seems unlikely that Liverpool would entertain such a lowball offer for one of their most important players.