Trent Alexander-Arnold's move to Real Madrid may prove to be a short-lived adventure, with reports suggesting the right-back is considering a return to England less than two years after leaving Liverpool.

The 28-year-old departed Anfield at the end of the 2024/25 season as a Premier League champion, joining Real Madrid on a free transfer — a decision that unsettled a section of Liverpool's fanbase given the circumstances surrounding his exit.

Struggles at the Bernabeu

Alexander-Arnold arrived in Madrid linking up with manager Xabi Alonso during the summer of 2025, but the arrangement has proved turbulent. Real Madrid have since gone through two managerial changes, ultimately turning to Jose Mourinho after a brief spell with another former Liverpool figure, Alvaro Arbeloa, at the helm.

On the pitch, Alexander-Arnold has found regular minutes hard to come by. He has managed just 343 minutes across La Liga and the UEFA Champions League this season, sitting third in the pecking order behind summer arrival Denzel Dumfries and Federico Valverde. Last season he made 14 La Liga starts; this term he has only three.

His contract at Real Madrid runs until the end of the 2030/31 season, meaning any club looking to acquire him would face a significant fee. That has not historically deterred Chelsea.

Chelsea lead the race

Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City have all been linked with the England international, but Chelsea reporter Simon Phillips has indicated that the Blues hold the strongest hand. A key factor is Xabi Alonso's reported desire to reunite with Alexander-Arnold in London — the pair worked together only briefly in Spain before the managerial reshuffles at Real Madrid.

Should Alexander-Arnold move to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea would likely open the door for Malo Gusto to depart. According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool made a deadline-day loan approach for the France international last summer, though Chelsea at the time insisted on a permanent deal.

Reece James remains Chelsea's first-choice right-back, but his persistent injury problems have left successive managers short of reliable cover. Alexander-Arnold, with his ability to drive forward and dictate play from deep, would offer a high-calibre solution — and Chelsea's recent transfer history suggests they are rarely put off by a premium price tag.