Trent Alexander-Arnold trend suggests he could be back at Liverpool in just 9 months — opinion

Trent Alexander-Arnold has reportedly emerged as a potential Liverpool target for a return to Anfield next summer.
According to Robin Bairner of Football Transfers, citing TEAMtalk, Liverpool are among several Premier League clubs monitoring the England international’s situation at Real Madrid.
The interest comes amid concerns over Alexander-Arnold’s lack of regular playing time under new Real Madrid manager José Mourinho.
Across Madrid’s first eight matches in all competitions this season, the 27-year-old has made five appearances, starting three of them. He has also remained an unused substitute in three matches and has been deployed out of his natural position on one occasion.
Overall, Alexander-Arnold has played just 292 minutes from a possible 720 — slightly more than one-third of the minutes available so far in the 2026/27 campaign.
It is still early in Mourinho’s reign, but Denzel Dumfries appears to have established himself as the manager’s preferred option at right-back, having already accumulated 505 minutes.
Alexander-Arnold’s playing time has also dropped significantly over the past few seasons, falling from 3,479 minutes in 2024/25 to 1,794 minutes in 2025/26. His current numbers suggest another season in which he may struggle to become a regular starter.
There are, however, several major questions surrounding a possible Liverpool return.
Would Real Madrid actually be willing to sell him in the summer of 2027, and would they demand a fee Liverpool are prepared to pay?
How strong is Liverpool’s interest in the player?
Would Alexander-Arnold himself be open to returning to Anfield after the difficult circumstances surrounding his departure?
Would he fit into Andoni Iraola’s plans and preferred system?
And what would a return mean for Liverpool’s existing right-back options, particularly Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong?
Alexander-Arnold’s departure from Liverpool was far from straightforward. Many supporters were deeply disappointed by the way his exit unfolded, with the frustration even leading to repeated vandalism of his mural close to Anfield, including around the time he returned to Liverpool with Real Madrid for a Champions League fixture.
However, there is no denying the quality of the player. Alexander-Arnold remains one of the most technically gifted full-backs of his generation and played an important role during Liverpool’s successful era under Jurgen Klopp. He also helped the club win two Premier League titles under different managers.
A potential return to Anfield could therefore provide an opportunity for the player to rebuild his relationship with supporters, particularly if he were able to once again demonstrate the exceptional passing and creativity that made him so influential at Liverpool.
From Liverpool’s perspective, the club may need additional competition at right-back within the next couple of transfer windows, particularly if no reinforcement arrives in January.
Liverpool opted against signing another right-back or striker during the summer despite long-term injury concerns involving Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike. That decision suggests the club considers both players important parts of its long-term plans.
At present, however, Liverpool could still find themselves short in both positions, especially after injuries to Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo during the international break.
The right-back situation is particularly interesting. Bradley has experienced recurring injury problems, while Frimpong has yet to completely establish himself in the position. The situation has even resulted in loan signing Ronald Araujo being used out of position.
That could leave Liverpool needing to bring in another right-back either in January or during next summer’s transfer window.
Rather than signing someone who would permanently block Bradley’s development, Liverpool could look for a more experienced player capable of sharing the workload while allowing the younger defender to continue developing at an appropriate pace.
Alexander-Arnold could potentially fit that profile. He turns 28 during this season, while Bradley is 23, creating an age gap that could allow both players to have clearly defined roles within the squad.
The biggest obstacle could ultimately be the transfer fee.
Real Madrid paid around €10 million (£8.5m) to release Alexander-Arnold early from his Liverpool contract. If they decide he is no longer central to their plans, they could still make a significant profit from his sale while also removing his substantial wages from their payroll.
If Alexander-Arnold were willing to return to the club where he became a star and where his unique footballing qualities were highly valued, a reunion with Liverpool could potentially make sense for all sides.