Andoni Iraola will have to fork out another mammoth fee to clinch a valued Liverpool target
Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has yet to become a regular starter at Real Madrid (Image: Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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Six games into the campaign, Liverpool finds themselves in unfamiliar territory. The Reds are ninth in the Premier League and searching for their identity under Andoni Iraola following a 3-0 defeat against Manchester City at Anfield.
As frustration mounts among supporters, the Spanish boss could already be plotting a winter reset. It was a relatively quiet summer transfer window for Iraola, who signed just Victor Munoz, Ronald Araujo and Bradley Barcola.
With asking prices clarified for a key target and a startling potential reunion with Trent Alexander-Arnold on the radar, the January transfer window could provide the catalyst Liverpool so urgently needs.
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Alex Scott valuation emerges
Alex Scott celebrates
Alex Scott could leave Bournemouth in January(Image: Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
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Iraola has yet to settle on a consistent midfield at Liverpool, but could find himself reunited with Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott. The England star was a summer target for the Reds, Chelsea and Manchester United, though the Cherries stood firm in their determination to retain the 23-year-old.
However, the Premier League outfit have softened their position on Scott following talks with his representatives, with a sale now a possibility should a club come forward with a £100m offer. Iraola was Bournemouth manager when Scott arrived at the club in 2023 and featured 89 times under the Spaniard.
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According to BBC Sport, the Reds are believed to be well-placed despite the fierce competition for the midfielder's signature. Scott is expected to remain sidelined until November owing to a thigh injury he aggravated whilst representing the Three Lions in their 7-0 victory over Croatia earlier this month.
Possible Trent return
Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid CF greets fans during the LaLiga EA Sports football match between Real Madrid CF and Villarreal CF
Trent Alexander-Arnold has started just three league games for Real Madrid this season(Image: (Photo by Alberto Gardin/NurPhoto via Getty Images))
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Real Madrid's reported pursuit of Tottenham right-back Pedro Porro could pave the way for Alexander-Arnold's departure and a possible homecoming at Anfield. The England international has featured in just three of Madrid's eight league fixtures this season, with Jose Mourinho favouring summer acquisition Denzel Dumfries on the right side of defence.
According to SER Deportivos, the La Liga giants had previously explored signing Porro before the Spaniard penned a new deal at Spurs, prompting them to secure the Dutch international from Inter Milan instead.
Porro - who was part of Spain's World Cup-winning team this past summer - is reportedly keen to establish whether Madrid's interest in him is still genuine, given Barcelona are said to have made enquiries about his availability.
Should the 15-time European champions secure Porro's signature, that could open the door for Alexander-Arnold to depart and complete a dream move back to his boyhood club. The Reds have struggled to find an adequate replacement for their former star, with Conor Bradley dogged by injury and Jeremie Frimpong failing to live up to expectations since his £30m transfer last year.