Real Madrid are making a strong push to secure Liverpool stalwart Trent Alexander-Arnold, a signing that could significantly strengthen Los Blancos’ squad.
Despite having some of the best footballers on their team, Real Madrid are constantly on the lookout for players who can further bolster their squad. They have a star-studded attack as well as midfield with some world-class young guns, but the same cannot be said about the defence.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team lacks depth at the back, and injuries to key players have exposed their flaws in recent seasons. With Eder Militao suffering back-to-back ACL injuries and David Alba and Antonio Rudiger in the twilight of their career, signing a new central defender will be one of their top priorities going forward.
But, Los Blancos are also looking to freshen things up on the flanks. Dani Carvajal picked up a serious knee injury back in October and is out for the remainder of the season. He will be 33 soon and with Lucas Vázquez turning 34 in a few months, the reigning La Liga champions are looking to plan for the long run.
Real Madrid want to bring in someone who can be their first-choice right-back going forward. The team in white have identified a great opportunity in Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose contract at Liverpool runs out at the end of the season.
While the Reds have been pushing hard to extend his stay at the club, they have not tasted any success yet. The English international seems interested in playing for the team in white. Recent reports suggest that Real Madrid could soon agree a pre-contract with the 26-year-old regarding a free transfer ahead of next season.
Los Blancos reportedly have two contracts prepared for the full-back sensation, and there is a slight possibility of him making the move to Madrid in January if Liverpool decide to sell rather than lose out on him for free.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold’s potential move to Real Madrid on the horizon, let us explore how his arrival could influence the team and enhance its balance.
An ideal replacement for Dani Carvajal
Dani Carvajal might not get the limelight he deserves at Real Madrid, but he certainly has been one of their best players over the last six to seven years. Not only is he a solid defender, but the Spanish international is equally good on the attacking side of things.
Carvajal’s presence on the right flank has given the team in white an added advantage. Diagonal balls from Toni Kroos to the Real Madrid graduate were one of the go-to moves for Los Blancos during their dominant run. It would stretch the opposition’s defence and help Carvajal make the full use of his ability to find his teammates with a cross into the box.
With the Spaniard turning 33 in less than two weeks, Real Madrid are looking to prepare for the long run, and Trent Alexander-Arnold will be the perfect replacement as he has similar skill sets to the Spanish international.
One can argue that the English full-back is an even better attacking player than Carvajal as he can not only cross the ball but also score goals from outside the box and is proficient with set pieces.
Trent Alexander-Arnold will also provide them an additional option in the centre of the park, and he knows how to control the tempo of the game. While he might have a few issues on the defensive side of things, the English international is just the perfect fit for Real Madrid, who are constantly looking for more attacking firepower.
Alexander-Arnold will provide balance to their attacks
Over the years, Real Madrid have often been a team that attacks from the left more often than not. Back then, the focus point of their attacks was Cristiano Ronaldo and of late, it has been Vinicius Junior.
With all the focus on the left flank, there has often been a lot of room on the right flank, and that is where Dani Carvajal has had the opportunities to do the damage.
Up until last season, Los Blancos had Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes in the final third. The duo used to drift towards the left to link up with each other leaving acres of space on the right for the Spanish international to exploit.
Carvajal certainly made the most out of that space as he ended up having the best season of his life with 11 goal contributions in his 41 outings. The Spanish international played a massive part in their UEFA Champions League and La Liga win and finished fourth on the Ballon d’Or ranking.
Kylian Mbappe’s arrival in the team makes them an even more left-side dominant team as their first-choice front three of Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, and Rodrygo Goes are all natural left-wingers.
While Ancelotti will surely ask Rodrygo to stick to the right flank, that won’t change the fact that opposition teams will be focused on stopping their attacks from the left. It will leave room on the right flank and an attack-minded full-back like Trent Alexander-Arnold can surely make the most out of it.
Given the Englishman’s ability to impact the attacking side of things, his arrival could balance things out for Los Blancos making them equally effective from the right. He is exceptional on the ball and has the creative side to find someone like Jude Bellingham when he makes a late run into the box.
Alexander-Arnold and Davies will not be a compatible fit
Apart from signing the Liverpool full-back on a free transfer, Real Madrid have also been linked with Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies, whose contract is also running down. While there is a high possibility that he pens an extension at the Bavarian club, there is a slight chance that the Canadian international could choose to walk away for free.
Los Blancos are interested in his services as they look for an upgrade on Ferland Mendy who has been a touch inconsistent and has struggled with injuries of late. While Davies is an exceptional full-back, he is one of those players who prefers staying up the field and contributing in the final third.
While the team in white have had attacking left-backs in the past, it might not be the right move this time around as they already have a lot of focus on the left with Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. up top. Davies’s arrival will make them even more threatening from the left. But with Trent Alexander-Arnold also someone who prefers being on the attack, the defensive side of things could be compromised.
More importantly, Real Madrid lack control in the centre of the park, and they do not really have someone who can control the tempo. If they had a world-class defensive midfielder with stable support, they could opt for two attacking full-backs but as things stand, Alphonso Davies and Trent Alexander-Arnold on the same team might not be the best choice.
