Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid CF looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid CF and FC Internazionale Milano at Berabeu stadium on September 08, 2026, in Madrid, Spain.
Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid CF looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid CF and FC Internazionale Milano at Berabeu stadium on September 08, 2026, in Madrid, Spain.
One of the finest creators Liverpool’s academy has ever produced is reportedly weighing up an exit from the Santiago Bernabéu at the end of the season, and the latest reports suggest that Anfield could become the setting for the next chapter of his career, even as figures inside the club worry about how supporters would greet his return.
The story comes from ITK Space, who reports that Bayern Munich, a club that has chased the player for several months, now know that Liverpool have emerged as a concrete option for the England international, with both sides sitting at the top of his list should his situation in the Spanish capital fail to improve.
Alexander-Arnold’s frustration becomes easy to understand once you look at how little football he has played under José Mourinho this season, with Federico Valverde starting at right back in the recent Clásico win over Barcelona at Camp Nou while Trent only entered the pitch in stoppage time, and Denzel Dumfries also taking minutes ahead of him in the pecking order.
Since arriving on a free transfer in 2025, Trent has made 42 appearances for Madrid in all competitions, starting 31 of them and providing eight assists, yet he has started only four matches under Mourinho this campaign, and with his contract running until 2029, any exit will require careful negotiation between the clubs involved.
Bayern view him as the man who can finally fill the void Philipp Lahm left on the right side of their defence, and Vincent Kompany has already spoken with him about the role he would play, with the Bavarian hierarchy particularly drawn to the idea of pairing his passing range with the attacking quality of Michael Olise.
According to the report, the prevailing feeling in Munich, however, is that Trent would lean towards a return to his boyhood club if both options materialise, which reflects the bond he built over nine seasons at Anfield, where he made 354 appearances, scored 23 goals, registered 86 assists and lifted 11 trophies, including two Premier League titles and the 2019 Champions League.
ITK Space adds that Liverpool are exploring a reunion and growing more optimistic about it, although serious hesitation remains within the club over how fans would react after the manner of his departure, given the anger that followed his decision to run down his contract and leave for Spain.
Timing also matters, because other reports have suggested that Trent has no plans to leave in January and that Mourinho has urged him to keep working, which points towards a summer decision once the Spanish season plays out.
For Andoni Iraola, who already has Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley competing on the right, the real question is whether Alexander-Arnold’s vision and delivery justify the emotional cost of bringing him home.
🚨 EXCL: Bayern Munich have been informed, amid their ongoing pursuit of Trent Alexander-Arnold, which I was the first to report several months ago, that #LFC have now emerged as a concrete option for the England international. Alexander-Arnold is seriously considering leaving Real Madrid at the end of the season should his current situation and the sporting circumstances surrounding him fail to improve. Both Bayern Munich and Liverpool, England’s grandest and most illustrious footballing institution, are understood to be his preferred destinations, with a potential departure from the Spanish capital becoming an increasingly realistic scenario.
Bayern Munich regard Alexander-Arnold as a pivotal figure for their long-term sporting project, viewing him as the player capable of finally filling the void left by the legendary Philipp Lahm and establishing himself as a defining presence on the right side of their defence for years to come. Vincent Kompany has already held discussions with the player, outlining his vision and the role he could occupy within the team, with the prospect of combining Alexander-Arnold’s exceptional passing range and creativity with Michael Olise’s attacking qualities particularly appealing to the Bayern hierarchy. The German champions remain firmly committed to their pursuit and believe they can present a compelling sporting proposition, with the player himself not having ruled out a move to Munich.
Nevertheless, the prevailing feeling within Bayern Munich is that Alexander-Arnold would currently lean towards a return to his boyhood club Liverpool, the institution that shaped his career and gave him the platform to establish himself among the finest players of his generation, should both opportunities materialise. #LFC are exploring the possibility of bringing their former player back to Anfield, although there remains serious, and I emphasise serious, hesitation within the club over how such a reunion would be received by supporters following the circumstances of his departure.
Bayern remain firmly committed to securing his signature and continue to position themselves as serious contenders, but Liverpool are increasingly optimistic about the prospect of bringing Alexander-Arnold back to Anfield and are actively exploring whether the conditions for a reunion can be established, with the England international currently prioritising a return to his boyhood club over a move to Munich should he leave Real Madrid at the end of the season, although much will ultimately depend on developments in the Spanish capital over the coming months.
— Space | ™ (@ITKSpace) October 31, 2026
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