Former Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold is likely to be presented as a Real Madrid player on Wednesday, with the right-back scheduled to fly to Spain following England's friendly against Senegal on Tuesday.
Xabi Alonso and his Madrid players are due to fly to the United States on Saturday ahead of the Club World Cup starting next week, which leaves a very small window for Alexander-Arnold's unveiling.
The Alonso era at Madrid started on Monday, June 9, as he took his first training session since agreeing to replace Carlo Ancelotti as Los Blancos boss. Alexander-Arnold, of course, was not present as he is still on England duty, but he will be in the Spanish capital later this week ahead of the flight to the US.
Dean Huijsen, another Madrid signing from the Premier League, is expected to be presented at the Bernabeu on Tuesday having finished up on international duty with the conclusion of the Nations League on Sunday.
Alexander-Arnold's move from Liverpool to Madrid was confirmed at the end of May, with the Spanish club paying the Reds an $11 million transfer fee — despite the player's Liverpool contract being due to expire just a few weeks later.
That's because Madrid wanted Alexander-Arnold to be part of Xabi Alonso's squad for the start of the Club World Cup.
Madrid could have waited until July 1 to sign Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer, and he would have been eligible to play in Los Blancos' remaining games in the tournament, but the Spanish giant was keen for the player to have a period of integration in the weeks building up to the revamped event.
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Meanwhile, Alexander-Arnold has been told that he remains behind Kyle Walker in England's right-back pecking order by a Three Lions legend.
Ahead of England's win over Andorra on Saturday, in which Curtis Jones was selected ahead of both players, Chris Waddle said: "It’s hard to name a better English right-back [than Walker]. Trent Alexander-Arnold can be exceptional but he’s not outstanding as a true defender.
"He’s got his talents, there’s no denying it, with exceptional passing and dead-ball delivery, but if it’s him or Walker, we’re not blessed in that position for a young right-back who does what you expect. I think Kyle is the pick of the two right now, his all-round game puts him ahead of the rest."