According to reports from TEAMtalk, Real Madrid has yet to decide on selling Trent Alexander-Arnold during the summer transfer window amid calls for Liverpool coach Andoni Iraola to bring the England international back to Anfield.
The right-back, who moved from Liverpool in the summer of 2025, was expected to become a star for Real last season. However, injuries and competition for places meant he struggled to secure a regular starting spot.
A change of managers at Real Madrid did not aid Alexander-Arnold’s cause either, as the 27-year-old endured a largely underwhelming debut season at arguably the biggest club in the world.
This summer, Real signed Denzel Dumfries from Inter Milan. New Real coach José Mourinho now faces the challenge of managing both Dumfries and Alexander-Arnold as they compete for the right-back position in the starting lineup.
In light of this situation, former Aston Villa striker and talkSPORT pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor has urged Liverpool’s Iraola to re-sign Alexander-Arnold.
“The crazy thing is, if you look at Liverpool right now, they need him. They need Trent more than ever. You’ve lost your number nine, your main man, Salah is no longer there.
Isak is your key player now. What does he need? Quality service. He won’t get that from Frimpong. He can’t defend. I’ve seen him defending one-on-one; he’s not good at it. His final passes are terrible. So even Isak is probably thinking: I need better quality deliveries from the right flank,” Agbonlahor said.
Former Chelsea and Aston Villa midfielder Andy Townsend also believes Liverpool should try to bring Alexander-Arnold back.
“He doesn’t need another season like last time. That would be a big disappointment for him. Secretly, he’s probably a bit upset it didn’t happen, that he never really got to show his best and struggled with injuries.
I think if Liverpool can arrange a season-long loan deal with him, regardless of the current fee, up to £10 million for the season, I wouldn’t turn it down to get this guy back in the squad. He’s a top-class player,” Townsend added.
Spanish outlet AS, which focuses on Real Madrid, relayed these comments and made it clear that Mourinho wants Alexander-Arnold to remain in Madrid. The club does not plan to sell the 27-year-old, who was not selected for England’s 2026 World Cup squad by coach Thomas Tuchel.
The report added: “Mourinho considers him very important to his system and believes he can regain his best form to help the team win major titles again this season.”
