Trent Alexander-Arnold has been linked with a stunning return to Liverpool in recent days as he continues to struggle with life at Real Madrid, and the Reds could get him for a cut-price fee
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool is being linked with a sensational return for Trent Alexander-Arnold ahead of the January transfer window
Liverpool could pay just $69 million to bring Trent Alexander-Arnold back to Anfield should the Reds opt for a sensational return for the Real Madrid right-back.
Since moving to the La Liga giant in the summer of 2025, Alexander-Arnold, 27, has failed to make the impact many expected at the Bernabeu, failing to hold down a regular starting spot under three different managers.
Under former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso and then ex-Reds defender Alvaro Arbeloa in his debut campaign for Los Blancos, Alexander-Arnold made just 22 starts, featuring in only 30 of Real Madrid's 52 games in all competitions, though his campaign was disrupted by injury.
Nonetheless, he lost his place in the England setup and was left out of head coach Thomas Tuchel's final 26-man roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with his last appearance for the Three Lions coming more than a year ago in June 2025.
In the current campaign, Alexander-Arnold's playing time has once again been mixed, despite another managerial change, with Jose Mourinho returning for his second spell in charge of Real Madrid over the summer.
The Liverpudlian has featured in five of Real Madrid's seven games in all competitions, starting three, including Tuesday's 3-2 victory over Elche, with his most notable moment coming in the 4-0 home win against Malaga on August 30 when he played the full 90 minutes and registered his lone assist of the campaign.
Real Madrid's English defender #12 Trent Alexander-Arnold looks on during the UEFA Champions League first round day 1 football match between Real Madrid and Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on September 8, 2026. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP via Getty Images)
Alexander-Arnold has largely struggled since moving to Real Madrid last summer(Image: Getty Images)
However, with Alexander-Arnold yet to make the right-back spot his own in the Spanish capital, as well as finding himself subject to boos from sections of the Real Madrid fanbase and facing intense media scrutiny, there have been several suggestions that a premature end to his career at the Bernabeu could be on the cards.
Furthermore, it has been reported that a spectacular return to Liverpool as early as January is also possible, with Spanish outlet Fichajes claiming this week that the Reds are considering re-signing their former academy graduate.
Whether that would be on a permanent or loan deal remains to be seen, but should it be the former, the Anfield faithful could expect to see their team pay around $68.8 million (£51.4m/€60m) to bring Alexander-Arnold back to Merseyside, as per his transfermarkt valuation.
MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 08: Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid receives instructions from head coach Jose Mourinho during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 08, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Alvaro Medranda/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Alexander-Arnold has started just two of seven games under Jose Mourinho this season(Image: Getty Images)
For a player of Alexander-Arnold's quality, this would represent an excellent deal, and considering Real Madrid only paid $11.5m (£8.6m/€10m) to sign him from Liverpool a month before his contract expired, the Spanish outfit may not push for a higher fee.
Madrid, however, could very well ask for much more, given Alexander-Arnold still has just under five years remaining on his Los Blancos contract, which is why a potential January return to Anfield is highly complex, as breaking his contract would command a significant premium or require a massive buyout.
Liverpool, however, could bite the bullet if it means getting back a player it knows will perform at Anfield, having struggled to effectively replace Alexander-Arnold since his departure at the end of the 2024-25 title-winning campaign.
Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong in training for Liverpool
Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong have failed to adequately take over from Alexander-Arnold since his departure(Image: Getty Images)
While Jeremie Frimpong initially appeared to be the ideal replacement following his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen for $40.2m (£30m/€35m), he has failed to live up to expectations, and promising youngster Conor Bradley, viewed as the ideal long-term successor, has been severely hampered by recurring injuries.
Arne Slot also resorted to playing midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones out of position to cover the right-back position in the absence of Frimpong and Bradley last season, but they unsurprisingly struggled to have the desired effect.
Under new head coach Andoni Iraola this season, summer signing Ronald Araujo has often been deployed at right-back since his switch from Barcelona, though he is primarily a center-back.