Manchester City have been linked with a move for one of Liverpool's former defenders but will not be chasing a transfers
MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 25: Trent Alexander-Arnold, of Real Madrid, is training with his teammates at Ciudad Real Madrid on January 25, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
Trent Alexander-Arnold in Real Madrid training(Image: )
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Manchester City are not planning to offer Trent Alexander-Arnold a shock route back to the Premier League in summer. The Liverpool academy product moved to Real Madrid at the end of last season, burning some bridges on Anfield with the way he went about the move, but has not had a smooth start to life at the Bernabeu.
Alexander-Arnold was seen as the player that could succeed the hugely popular right-back Dani Carvajal at Real Madrid in the long term, yet it has been a challenging first season. His form was inconsistent in a team that saw new manager Xabi Alonso sacked earlier this month, while he has also had significant spells out of the side with injury.
Those early troubles have led to claims that a summer move could be on the cards. City have been touted as a possible option given their interest in the position for next season and Pep Guardiola's admiration for the player; Alexander-Arnold also worked for years at Liverpool with City No.2 Pep Lijnders.
Such a move would further decrease Alexander-Arnold's popularity at Anfield, although Liverpool do not have to worry on this occasion. According to reports in Spain, the right-back has been backed by new boss Alvaro Arbeloa as well to be a part of his plans for the future.
City have already spent £82.5m in January window to bring Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi to the club and right-back could be one of the positions targeted in the summer. Matheus Nunes has seemingly been converted to the position full-time, but the fact that Guardiola sees Rico Lewis as a midfielder means City's options are limited when Nunes does not play - as was seen in the defeats to United and Bodo/Glimt.
City's coach has already mentioned that Guehi can play in multiple positions though, and if they bring in another centre-back with the contracts of Nathan Ake and John Stones expiring in summer the club could get round the right-back spot that way. Rayan Ait-Nouri was used there against Bodo/Glimt, and could be tried there again despite the defeat in Norway.