REAL MADRID are showing significant interest in signing Manchester United right-back Diogo Dalot, according to reports.
It comes after the LaLiga giants have repeatedly approached Liverpool for Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose contract expires in the summer.
But with Liverpool flying high at the top the Prem and Alexander-Arnold being a local boy - Madrid could give up on the fantasy of luring him away from a new Anfield deal.
Instead, Carlo Ancelotti's side have reportedly eyed Dalot as an alternative to the England right-back.
Madrid value Dalot at around £41million, according to Spanish outlet
And United were even approached by the 15-time Champions League winners about Dalot while Erik ten Hag was still in charge.
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The 25-year-old has played 178 games for the Red Devils and was voted the player of the year by his team-mates last season.
Dalot's importance grew during United's dismal 2023-24 campaign, as he started 35 of 38 Prem games and scored twice.
New boss Ruben Amorim is set to assess which players he fancies moving forward, but Dalot is likely to make the cut.
But the Portugal international has four years remaining on his United contract, after putting pen-to-paper on a new deal in May 2023.
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Meanwhile, Madrid could land Alexander-Arnold for nothing.
The Merseyside star is entering the final six months of Liverpool contract after coming through the youth ranks.
But Arne Slot will be hoping to convince him to sign a new deal at Anfield - and if the club continue on this upward trajectory, it would be hard to refuse.
Alexander-Arnold has won it all with his boyhood club, including their first Premier League title, a Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Fifa Club World Cup.
In theory, the 26-year-old is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club in January, with his current contract set to expire in June.
But Madrid wanted to respect Liverpool, who defeated them 2-0 in Europe last week, by making their intentions clear.
Alexander-Arnold, who has provided an astonishing 84 assists and 23 goals from right-back in 326 appearances in a Liverpool shirt, has long been linked with a switch to Madrid.
Los Blancos are currently operating without their usual right-back - six-time Champions League winner Dani Carvajal after he ruptured his ACL.