The turn of the new year means only one thing for many football fans, the transfer window is open again.
While the January window is normally the quieter of the two, especially in recent years as it feels like clubs are more reluctant to mid-season squad changes. However, the window has offered up some monumental transfer in the recent past like Virgil Van Dijk's move from Southampton to Liverpool and Enzo Fernandez's £105 million move to Chelsea in 2023.
With many big clubs misfiring so far this season across Europe and the packed calendar catching up on players who are receiving more serious injuries, this January may see teams more likely to be on the hunt for players to bulk out their squad heading into the run-in. Then there's of course the players who have their contracts running up at the end of the season.
Players who have less than 6 months remaining on their contracts are free to have talks with any clubs and with most contracts in Europe ending in June, that means that the January window is the first chance clubs get to discuss potential moves.
And on what's been a near-perfect half season for Liverpool, this detail has been hanging over them. Arne Slot's side has multiple players with contracts ending at the end of the season, including arguably the player of the season so far Mohamed Salah and star man Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Gary Lineker Believes Trent Alexander-Arnold Would "Love It" At Real Madrid
Both players are yet to sign new deals and it isn't clear whether either man is close to securing a new deal. While there will obviously be interest in Salah if he is to become available, there's been less concrete reports to say who's fighting over the Egyptian's signature. That can't be said of Trent however.
For a long time now it's been out there at Real Madrid are all set on signing the Liverpool right back, preferably on a free for the summer of 2025. They look to already have a perfect squad already but if you were to pick out one hole in it, it may be that there's no clear replacement for the aging Dani Carvajal, who's also recovering from a horrendous knee injury at the moment.
That makes Trent Alexander-Arnold the perfect 'Galactico' replacement, with his big profile and popularity off the pitch coupled with his impressive resumé on it. It's a fit that many Madrid fans believe is perfect and one that Gary Lineker believe will work for Alexander-Arnold as well.
Speaking on his Rest is Football podcast, former England International and Barcelona striker Gary Lineker spoke about the prospect of Trent Alexander-Arnold going to Real Madrid and how it could be a great move for the Liverpool Academy product.
How do you say no to Real Madrid? Liverpool is an incredible football club, but a fresh challenge, playing abroad, I did it myself. Playing for Real Madrid or Barcelona is truly special.
However strong and powerful and rich the Premier League is, the world’s greats still go to Barcelona and Real Madrid. The only exception in recent times is Haaland.
That aside, they go there. [Alexander-Arnold] will love it there. It will be amazing. They’ll worship and appreciate his passing range. He is in the prime of his career.
It's a saga that's been dragging on for some time now, but this month we could finally see a decision be made on what's next in Trent Alexander-Arnold's career, stay at Liverpool or become a Galactico at the most successful club on the planet.
