EXCLUSIVEInside Real Madrid's audacious bid to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold early, scouting Darwin Nunez's potential replacement and YOUR transfer questions answered: LIVERPOOL CONFIDENTIAL

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Contributors: NATHAN SALT and JOE BERNSTEIN 

Real Madrid are exploring whether they can bring forward the expected transfer of Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer so he can play for them in June’s Club World Cup.

The champions of Europe take part in the new-look competition starting three weeks after the regular season, with Carlo Ancelotti’s men first taking on Al Hilal on June 18 at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.

Alexander-Arnold’s deal at Liverpool does not expire until June 30 – so Real would have to pay to get him out of his contract early if they want him to play from that game onwards.

There is a window from June 1 to June 10 for clubs to make additions to their squad or extend the deals of existing players. For example, Manchester City could offer Kevin De Bruyne a short-term extension to his expiring contract so he can play in the competition.

Confidential has been told that Real are extremely keen for Alexander-Arnold to play in the tournament if he ends up signing for them, but they would require Liverpool to play ball and release him early – which is easier said than done.

If Alexander-Arnold was released early, Liverpool would save around a month of wages and be able to demand small compensation in the form of a transfer fee. Real were ready to pay £20million to sign him in January but the Premier League leaders swiftly rebuffed that approach.

Real Madrid are keen to bring forward Reds star Trent Alexander-Arnold's expected transfer

Real want to pair the Liverpool academy graduate with his England team-mate Jude Bellingham

Real would need to get any move authorised by La Liga and the Premier League should they want to bring forward Alexander-Arnold’s transfer

It is believed participating clubs may also replace players in their Club World Cup squads during a ‘restricted in-competition period’ from June 27 to July 3, with the final of the competition not until July 13 at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.

As these dates fall outside the transfer windows of La Liga and the Premier League, though, Real would need to get any move authorised by both organisations should they want to bring forward Alexander-Arnold’s transfer.

‘The objective is to encourage clubs and players whose contracts are expiring to find an appropriate solution to facilitate the players' participation,’ read a FIFA statement last October.

Sources in Spain have told Confidential that Real Madrid and president Florentino Perez are ‘counting on’ Alexander-Arnold to take some part in the Club World Cup but must get approval from La Liga and Liverpool to do so.

Revealed: Gravenberch’s quick exit just a precaution

There were fears it was going to be a bruising break for some Liverpool stars with Ryan Gravenberch and Alisson both leaving their international camps early with the Netherlands and Brazil respectively.

But Confidential understands neither are in danger of missing the Merseyside derby against Everton next week.

Gravenberch has started every Premier League game this season after starting just 12 last year – so his body has been through the mill in recent months. He was also a key man in Liverpool's Champions League campaign.

But it is understood the midfielder withdrew from the Dutch international camp as a precaution and should be OK for next week. He has gone on holiday to underline the fact that he is OK and is taking a well-deserved rest.

Ryan Gravenberch withdrew from the Netherlands camp as a precaution and should be OK for next week

Goalkeeper Alisson suffered a blow to the head during Brazil's win over Colombia last week

Alisson suffered a blow to the head during Brazil's win over Colombia last week. As per concussion protocol, he missed their meeting with Argentina overnight. He was sorely missed, too, as the world champions beat Brazil 4-1.

But Alisson is OK and just had to follow the guidelines on head injuries so flew home.

His Liverpool team-mate might be leading the banter when the Reds reunite in the coming days, with Alexis Mac Allister on the scoresheet for the Argentines.

Anyone fancy a dabble on Dibling?

Liverpool and a number of other elite clubs had scouts at the England Under 19 game against Turkey in Connah’s Quay last weekend.

Confidential believes Tyler Dibling, the Southampton starlet, was one of the players on their watch-list. Dibling, 19, has been a shining light in an otherwise dismal campaign for Saints and, with their relegation all but confirmed, there is set to be a multi-team scramble to sign him this summer.

Manchester United are also keeping tabs on Dibling alongside Tottenham, Newcastle and clubs on the continent.

Saints would demand a hefty fee for Dibling, who has played 30 times this season and scored four goals. Their bargaining power could diminish, though, if and when they are relegated to the Championship.

England’s Under 19s drew with Turkey but plenty of talent was on show and the stadium was swarming with scouts. Chris Rigg, 17, of Sunderland is another who could prompt a multi-team chase for his services.

Liverpool have been watching Southampton star Tyler Dibling closely

Scouting report: Hugo Ekitike

Hugo Ekitike is a name that is likely to remain in Liverpool transfer talk until his future is worked out this summer – and for good reason.

The young Frenchman is a fine marksman in the area, as he showed in France last week when he dismantled England’s Under 21s with a hat-trick in a 5-3 win.

Having overlapping wingers is key to maximising Ekitike's skills, with two of his three goals being deft finishes from five yards after cutback crosses from the left and right by Tottenham’s Wilson Odobert.

Fans who think he is merely a penalty-box poacher should look up his second goal, for which he beat England’s offside trap to run in behind before chipping goalkeeper James Beadle.

Ekitike would thrive on the wing play at Anfield and his finishing to this point suggests he can provide far more reliability in the area than Darwin Nunez.

Liverpool’s scouts are monitoring him closely and have been for some time. The Reds are on course to win the Premier League, but Arne Slot knows there are improvements he can make to his side, not least at No 9.

Diogo Jota, who has been deployed through the middle of late, perhaps offers more than Ekitike in terms of link-up play and passing but physically it is night and day. Ekitike, at 6ft 3in, would be a nightmare match-up in aerial duels – far more so than Jota.

Don’t be fooled by Ekitike’s wiry frame – it is similar to Alexander Isak's and being so slight has hardly held the Newcastle superstar back…

Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike scored twice for France's Under 21s against England

The French marksman has 19 goals in 38 appearances for the Bundesliga outfit this season

Your questions answered

A new feature starts in Confidential this week where I will pick some fans’ questions to answer.

Sadly for Jamie Worth, I am not qualified to advise on your parents’ failing marriage, nor will I debate Olly Wyse’s philosophical question over whether life is really worth it. Not here anyway.

But I can answer these…

Tom Little asks: which youngsters have impressed the club most this season on their loan spells, and has that changed any potential transfer plans?

Several of the loanees will get a chance to impress on the pre-season tour this summer. Ben Doak, Jayden Danns and Stefan Bajcetic are probably the three at the top of that list.

Doak, who is injured at the moment, has been the shining light of Liverpool loanees this season and his decisive running – I have watched him a few times for Middlesbrough – looks like something Liverpool miss.

Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Ipswich have shown interest in signing him but Liverpool are not in a rush to sell. Slot may want to take another look at him before sanctioning any deal. I rate him, he looks like a special talent.

Danns has had a tricky season with injury so whatever happens between now and the end of the season, he needs another loan next year. Bajcetic is starting to excel at Las Palmas in La Liga and, with Liverpool needing midfield cover, I can see him sticking around next year.

Jayden Danns has had a tricky season with injury - whatever happens between now and the end of the season, he needs another loan next year

Stefan Bajcetic is starting to excel at Las Palmas in La Liga and could make a return to Anfield

Lewis Koumas at Stoke and Owen Beck at Blackburn, both Wales internationals, are enjoying good campaigns and Confidential understands the pair have interest from Championship promotion hopefuls Sheffield United.

DLMA asks: Please could you give us a realistic plan of summer signings? And whether we can actually pull in Dean Huijsen? News on Ibrahima Konate would be nice too.

Bournemouth defender Huijsen looks a class act and is on Liverpool’s radar, though they will face a lot of competition for the Spain international.

At 6ft 5in and with a passing range that some of the Spanish press this week compared to Gerard Pique's, it would be no surprise if Real Madrid and Barcelona were in the conversation for him.

Liverpool and Richard Hughes were aware of Huijsen last summer when he completed a £12.6m switch to Hughes' old club Bournemouth from Juventus. He is now worth around five times that, with a £50m release clause active from June.

The Premier League leaders will definitely be in the conversation for him, DLMA, but they will not be the only ones.

In terms of a realistic plan for the summer, a lot depends on the future of the Contract Three, as I call them. Giorgi Mamardashvili, will sign so I would expect Caoimhin Kelleher to depart if a suitable offer comes in – Bournemouth are one of many clubs keen on him.

Then the defence needs work. There is a strong chance Liverpool will sign a left back and Alexander-Arnold’s expected exit will prompt a search for a right back, too. At centre half, they will be opportunistic and potentially strengthen in that area.

Liverpool may need to upgrade their forward line due to the uncertain futures of Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz

There has been no breakthrough in talks with Ibrahima Konate over a new deal, and Real Madrid are keeping tabs on his situation

Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz have uncertain futures, and any departures would prompt Liverpool to upgrade their forward line – something they need to do. An they are slightly light in the holding midfield department so I would not be surprised if there is activity there, too.

There has been no breakthrough in talks with Ibrahima Konate over a new deal yet. Real Madrid are keeping tabs on his situation but there is no indication he wants to leave at this stage.

Hope that helps!

Roy’s back watching over Liverpool

One of Liverpool's former managers will be a particularly interested spectator at their next away game, against Fulham on Sunday April 6.

Former Reds boss Roy Hodgson has been invited to Craven Cottage by the hosts whom he managed to great success between the end of 2007 and 2010.

Hodgson, who will be accompanied by his long-time assistant Ray Lewington, landed the job at Anfield in the summer of 2010 after leading Fulham to a Europa League final.

Though he lasted only six months on Merseyside, there were mitigating circumstances.

He was appointed at the tail end of the disastrous Tom Hicks-George Gillett era and new owner John W Henry turned to club legend Kenny Dalglish to bring stability following a difficult first half to the season.

Roy Hodgson was appointed at the tail end of the disastrous Tom Hicks-George Gillett era

Sugar Free in line to produce kit launch promos

Confidential readers will recall last week how we reported Zut Media are among those bidding to produce Liverpool’s kit promotion for the new adidas gear.

It is understood another firm, Sugar Free, is also high up in the process to help with this. Sugar Free, based in Manchester, have worked with clients such as Yorkshire Tea, boxing’s Riyadh Season and JD Sports.

Trent suffers on social media 

It’s a good job Trent Alexander-Arnold is injured at the moment, judging by the reaction on social media on Tuesday after the rumour mill whirred out the story that Real Madrid are confident of signing him.

The vitriol he received on X was ramped up several notches and it makes one wonder if his absence from the team, due to an ankle injury, is probably a good thing given time may soften the blow for some fans.

Some of the comments posted were too much, but other Liverpool fans saw the funny side immediately and started sharing humorous images.

One was of Alexander-Arnold’s famous assist for Divock Origi in the Champions League semi-final – ‘corner taken quickly… Origi!’ – with Andy Robertson edited into the picture as the man taking the set-piece. Another with Conor Bradley followed.

Another featured the Alexander-Arnold mural outside Anfield instead reading ‘Alexander Isak’, hinting at who the fans want Liverpool to sign this summer.

The vitriol Alexander-Arnold received on X yesterday was ramped up several notches

Loan watch: Dundee United want Anfield kid

Dundee United are keen on signing Liverpool full back Luca Stephenson on a permanent deal this summer.

The 21-year-old from Sunderland featured on  Slot’s pre-season tour of America but went out on loan for the season to Scotland, where he has played 28 times and scored three goals for the Tannadice club.

He has enjoyed his time north of the border, clearly, and his Liverpool deal is set to expire at the end of this season. Dundee United would be one of the clubs vying for his signature if he does not extend his deal.

Full back signs new deal

No, not that one.

Reds left back Clae Ewing has signed his first professional contract. The 18-year-old joined Liverpool from Bury at Under 12 level and can play in midfield, too. He has featured for the Under 21s recently.

Ewing has struggled a bit with injuries in his mid-teens but now the goal is to establish himself in the 21s. As one full back seemingly heads for the exit door, another kid’s dream comes true of signing a pro deal. Good luck to him.

18-year-old Reds left back Clae Ewing has signed his first professional contract

Liverpool 10th in the league

…for fan arrests in the last five seasons. According to data from SeatPick (full details here), Liverpool fans are 10th in the Premier League table for arrests made at matches in the last five years.

West Ham are on the naughty step with 317 arrests with the Manchester clubs in second and third. Bournemouth have the best-behaved fans with just 16 arrests and Liverpool are 10th with 146.

Red Riddle

Last week I asked you to name the five Italians who have scored in the League Cup final. I gave you the hint that two have connections to Liverpool.

Azzurri forward Federico Chiesa became the fifth Italian to score in a League Cup final

Wataru Endo has played 26 times in all competitions for Liverpool this season but is yet to make a league start

The answers are Fabrizio Ravanelli, Roberto di Matteo, Fabio Borini, Manolo Gabbiadini and Federico Chiesa.

This week, I got thinking about super-subs. Wataru Endo has played 26 times in all competitions for Liverpool this season but is yet to make a league start.

He joins three other players in Reds history who have played more than 15 times in one season without making a league start. Who are they?

(And full credit to the excellent Opta statistician and Liverpool fan Michael Reid for this one!)