Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has reportedly made two key demands to the club's management: a long-term contract and a promise of captaincy to make him stay.
The England star's current contract is set to expire at the end of this season, leaving him free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs.
Despite rejecting a £20million offer from Real Madrid on New Year's Eve, Liverpool are still sweating about Real Madrid circling for Alexander-Arnold's services ahead of next season. However, it seems that the homegrown talent, who has been with the Reds since his youth, is giving the club's bosses an opportunity to retain him for the foreseeable future.
According to talkSPORT, Alexander-Arnold has insisted on a minimum three-year contract and a commitment to making him the team's captain in the 'long run'.
With current captain Virgil van Dijk's contract also ending this summer, it remains to be seen how Alexander-Arnold's second demand may impact the Dutchman's own contract negotiations.
Given that Van Dijk is 33 years old, Alexander-Arnold's aspiration to become captain could still be realised even if Van Dijk stays. The situation regarding the right-back's future is described as 'open', with a general expectation that Van Dijk is more likely to stay than not.
It is likely the England star will be offered a lucrative offer from Madrid, with reports his wages could double to around £400k-per-week in the Spanish capital.
Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is treading carefully over the situation: "January signings? It's a bit more complicated to talk about this. We'll see, we'll see. Talking about this is not easy at the moment," he remarked during a pre-match press conference before facing Valencia on Friday night.
"I said that we will not sign anyone in January before. Look, I can't talk about it now. This is not the time and place. We will see what will happen but I have a great squad. We have got injuries and problems with that but we are also able to overcome them."
As for Alexander-Arnold, the star defender has been keen to keep his talks with Liverpool out of the public eye. "I have been at the club 20 years now, I have signed four or five contract extensions and none of those have been played out in public - and this one won't be either," he said to Sky Sports last December.
"I think we win multiple trophies. I think that's the level that we're at, that's the level we've shown that we're capable of, beating the best teams in the world."
