Both Liverpool and Real Madrid suffered blow this week as the Trent Alexander-Arnold race heats up. The Scouser is out of contract at the end of the season.
Where will Trent Alexander-Arnold play after this season? No one is entirely sure right now. It seems inconceivable that he leaves in January but once his contract expires?
READ MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold's contract decision CLEAR
It'll be one of two places, it seems. He could renew his contract with Liverpool and remain at his boyhood club for the rest of his peak years.
Or he could leave Liverpool and sign for Real Madrid on a free transfer. The long time goes on, the more that feels like reality.
After all, Alexander-Arnold can sign a pre-contract with a non-English club from January 1st. That's a little over two weeks away - things are getting tense.
And that's why even the smallest details feel like they could swing the decision here. Another page in the saga this week, for instance, felt like a blow for everyone involved.
Except Alexander-Arnold.
Alphonso Davies and Trent Alexander-Arnold
Like Alexander-Arnold, Alphonso Davies will also be out of contract in June. Like Alexander-Arnold, Real Madrid are heavily linked with him.
Their plan appears to be for the pair to fill the full-back positions going forward. They're about as high-profile as it gets in each, after all.
But now Cadena SER reports that it's looking increasingly unlikely that Davies will move to Madrid. Now, they still rate it as 50/50 and it could happen - that's a long way from the near-certainty the deal once seemed.
It's a blow to Madrid's plans, certainly, but it's also a blow to Liverpool. After all, Davies not joining Real Madrid would leave them not only more determined to land Alexander-Arnold but also with more financial room to do so.
This is news that neither club wanted to hear, then. Madrid's ultimate plan could be off the table, while Liverpool feel less likely to hold onto their homegrown star.
There's still a long way to go, of course, but this is a real twist in the tale.
READ MORE: Milos Kerkez sends ULTIMATE come and get me plea