Florentino Pérez hasn't wasted any time in the first few months of the season and has started planning for the next one. The president of Real Madrid is clear that transfers are needed to strengthen the defensive line. For now, it seems that he's focused solely and exclusively on full-backs. In England, they can already guess his next move: Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The latest to speak out was former footballer Tim Sherwood, confirming Alexander-Arnold's move to Real Madrid: "I think Trent is gone. Once Real Madrid comes looking for you... He's won everything at the club and he's been a great partner, but there's no chance of keeping him now."
Everything indicates that Alexander-Arnold has accepted Florentino Pérez's offer to join Real Madrid on a free transfer next season. In recent weeks, Laporta had stepped up his interest in taking him to Barça. However, it seems that the president of the Merengue club won the race.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: Closed by Florentino
The deal is complete and closed. Trent Alexander-Arnold ends his contract with Liverpool, doesn't renew it, becomes a free agent and signs for Real Madrid at zero cost.
Real Madrid could even force an early arrival by agreeing a symbolic amount with Liverpool just a few months before the end of the contract. A great move by Florentino Pérez, who has specialized in operations of this nature. Plus, the effects of this move don't stop there.
Liverpool will be forced to cover the absence of its departing player and has found the best substitute on the market.
Laporta: KO'd
Liverpool has set their sights on FC Barcelona defender Jules Koundé, according to Fichajes.net.
Arne Slot is enthusiastic about Koundé's versatility, as he can successfully play both as a full-back and as a center-back.
With this masterstroke, Madrid deprives Liverpool of one of its stars while weakening its rival Barça by taking away Koundé, all for the same price. The serendipity couldn't have been better for Florentino Pérez.
In this sense, Koundé wouldn't be against the possibility of leaving Barça. Thus, what could be a "simple" move with the transfer of Trent Alexander-Arnold by Florentino Pérez, could end up weakening Laporta. The domino effect would be total.