Liverpool vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold has been the subject of intense speculation in the past few weeks with the 26-year-old, alongside Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah out of contract at the end of the current season.

Further down the pitch, Arsenal need to decide on a No 6 for the future. Thomas Partey, who turns 32 in the summer, and Jorginho, 33, are both into the final six months of their contracts. While Declan Rice can play as a No 6, his talents are better utilised as the left No 8 in Mikel Arteta’s system.

Real Madrid remain intent on trying to sign top right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool in the current January transfer window.Even though there is confidence that the England star will