Liverpool could soften the blow of losing Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid by employing a strategy they used when Michael Owen left Anfield two decades ago.
Alexander-Arnold has been widely tipped to join the Spanish giants, either this month or when his Liverpool contract expires at the end of the season.
He is free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement, having entered into the final six months of his current deal at Anfield. Real Madrid have reportedly been trying to tempt Liverpool into selling him this month, but to no avail.
The Reds have already turned down a bid in the region of £20million, but they are seemingly delaying the inevitable with Alexander-Arnold increasingly unlikely to extend his Anfield spell.
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His potential exit would be a huge blow for Liverpool, where he has spent his entire career since joining them at the age of six. His incredible passing range helped them to win every available trophy under Jurgen Klopp and he remains an indispensable asset.
Even though Alexander-Arnold will be sorely missed if he joins Real Madrid, there might be a way for Liverpool to soften the blow of his departure.
When they sold Owen to Los Blancos back in 2004, they insisted on a part-exchange deal which saw Antonio Nunez move to Merseyside. It did not work out as planned, though, with Nunez leaving after just one season on the fringes.
Liverpool could demand a similar arrangement to sell Alexander-Arnold, which would involve a cut-price transfer fee in addition to a player being thrown in by Real Madrid.
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Marca have already reported that Aurelien Tchouameni could be 'sacrificed' by Real Madrid in a potential player-plus-cash deal. He is known to be admired by Liverpool, who unsuccessfully tried to sign him from Monaco before his move to Spain in 2022.
Alternatively, the Reds could negotiate the inclusion of a top young prospect such as Endrick or Arda Guler, who have struggled for regular minutes at the Bernabeu this season.
Back in November, it was claimed by The Independent that Real Madrid would consider sanctioning moves for both players in January. Permanent deals with buy-back clauses were mentioned in the report as genuine possibilities.
It remains to be seen what will unfold over the coming weeks, with Alexander-Arnold seemingly destined for a move unless there is a dramatic change in his circumstances at Liverpool.
