Manchester City keeping tabs on Trent Alexander-Arnold amid doubts over future | OneFootball

Manchester City are thought to be keeping tabs on Trent Alexander-Arnold as uncertainty continues to loom over his future at Real Madrid, as per a new report. 

The 27-year-old, who made 354 appearances for Liverpool across 21 years at the club, played a significant role in the Reds’ success under Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot that saw them achieve Premier League and UEFA Champions League glory. 

In an English football era that has been dominated by Pep Guardiola and Manchester City, Liverpool have often been second best by winning two of the previous six league titles under Klopp and Slot. 

Alexander-Arnold’s significance remained throughout that period until his exit to Real Madrid ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup last summer, which yielded split opinions from fans, many of whom conflicted the right-back’s decision to leave his boyhood club on a free transfer.

A mural which was set out following the club’s 2019 UEFA Champions League triumph, depicting Alexander-Arnold, was defaced with the word ‘rat’ shortly after rumours around his exit materialised – and the Englishman’s performances for Real Madrid in his debut season in Spain haven’t been much nicer either. 

Alexander-Arnold has struggled to make the impact he and the La Liga club envisaged following the move, with him only starting five games in the Spanish top-flight so far this term and submitting underwhelming performances when he has played. 

As a result, speculation has continued to spread this month around a possible exit and according to TEAMtalk, Manchester City appear to be monitoring the right-back’s situation. 

Sources cited in the article have indicated that Alexander-Arnold remains determined and motivated to fight for his place at the Santiago Bernabeu – but there is frustration from Real officials over how his debut season in Spain has unfolded.

From a City standpoint, it is understood that sporting director Hugo Viana is in the market for defensive options given the instability that has dented their Premier League title hopes in recent weeks.

The Blues have won just once in their last five games in the English top-flight, with three draws against Sunderland, Brighton and Chelsea amassing six dropped points before an embarrassing defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford condemned Guardiola’s players to a new low this season.

However, the January signings of Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi have reinvigorated the eight-time Premier League winners and following consecutive home wins over Wolves and Galatasaray ahead of Sunday’s trip to Tottenham, the ship seems to be turning at the Etihad Stadium.

Matheus Nunes, City’s first-choice albeit makeshift right-back, is exceeding expectations this season given his struggles to transition from a midfield role when he first joined from Wolves in 2023 – and the 27-year-old Portugal international will need mighty competition to be replaced.