BREAKING NEWS 》Trent Alexander-Arnold will join Real Madrid this summer on a free transfer. He’s agreed a deal over £220,000-a-week, ending his 20-year association with the club. With Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk out of contract too, it could be a tough summer for Liverpool.

Trent Alexander-Arnold agrees to join Real Madrid with defender to end 20-year Liverpool association

Trent Alexander-Arnold has agreed to join Real Madrid this summer, talkSPORT understands.

The Liverpool star will leave Anfield after agreeing personal terms over a five-year deal worth in excess of £220,000-per-week with the Spanish giants in a seismic blow to Arne Slot’s side.

Alexander-Arnold is set to join Real Madrid this summer

Alexander-Arnold is set to join Real Madrid this summer

The England international has been in discussions with Real since January. Liverpool rejected an approach from the Spanish club during the window window.

Alexander-Arnold is out of contract this summer – a situation that means that the defender is able to move on a free transfer.

Despite months of negotiations, the 26-year-old has opted to move to Madrid where he’ll be playing his football from next term.

For supporters, the news will come as a huge disappointment to lose someone who has been a cornerstone of their team during one of the most successful periods in recent history.

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As well as being a boyhood Liverpool fan, Alexander-Arnold is regarded as one of the top right-backs in world football.

He helped them win the Premier League and Champions League under Jurgen Klopp’s much revered reign.

In addition to losing a quality player to a European rival, the fact that he’s leaving for free will rub extra salt in the summer

Alexander-Arnold has been part of a trio of stars out of contract at the end of the season alongside Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.

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Salah has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, however it is understood that Saudi dealmakers are not in active talks with the Egypt star.

Liverpool remain optimistic of keeping both Salah and Van Dijk beyond the end of the season.

Alexander-Arnold will join close friend and England teammate Bellingham at Real Madrid

Alexander-Arnold will join close friend and England teammate Bellingham at

Alexander-Arnold is set to become a Real Madrid player

Alexander-Arnold is set to become a Real Madrid player

Alexander-Arnold, however, will be leaving in the summer.

Addressing his future back in September, the defender had hinted at building an Anfield legacy.

“I have always said I want to captain the club,” he told Sky Sports. “That is a goal of mine, whether that happens is out of my hands.”

Quizzed on what will decide his future, Alexander-Arnold said: “The most important thing is always trophies. I want to win trophies.

“We were close to the title last season and we got a cup. The [quadruple] was on for a while I suppose.

“This season we are looking really good, it is still early days, but we need a lot of consistency.

Time will tell what the reaction of Liverpool’s fans will be

“It will be difficult but we are looking to win as many trophies as we can.”

Breaking the news live on talkSPORT, chief football correspondent Alex Crook said: “Unlike Mo Salah, he’s not really commented publicly on his contract situation.

“I think he’s tried to be as respectful as possible and he didn’t want to cause any sort of distraction to Liverpool’s title challenge.”

Crook added: “I think he’ll go with his head held high.

“I know that there will be some Liverpool fans who are disappointed with the decision to leave his hometown club but the lure of Real Madrid is too strong for most players.”

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Reacting to the news, Simon Jordan insisted that he’s not surprised to see the deal being done.

He told talkSPORT: “I said a year ago, or at least at the start of this season that Trent would be going to Real Madrid, done deal.

So, it’s no surprise to me that that’s the case.

He’s a going concern, he’s a resalable asset, whereas Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are probably not as much.”