PSG Standout Labeled ‘The Next One’ for Real Madrid as Pursuit of Liverpool Ace Remains Uncertain | OneFootball

Real Madrid need a successor to Dani Carvajal, who, at 32, is near the end of his prime years. As a result, the Spanish side have been linked to various right-backs over the past few weeks heading into 2025.

Early in the summer, The Athletic’s Mario Cortegana revealed that Real Madrid are considering Achraf Hakimi as Carvajal’s long-term replacement. However, reports have also suggest that Trent Alexander-Arnold is also on Real Madrid’s radar.

The Liverpool standout’s contract expires next summer, so the La Liga side wouldn’t have to wait until 2026 when Hakimi’s deal expires.

The latest update on Real Madrid’s search for a long-term right-back comes from former Premier League striker Darren Bent. Now a talkSPORT pundit, Bent has revealed what his sources have explained to him about the ongoing drama.

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“I mean reports that I heard are that they haven’t really reached out to him at all,” Bent said (h/t Liverpool Echo). “What I’ve heard is that Real Madrid are quite big on their dressing room and Dani Carvajal, what is he – 32? So bringing someone in now would upset the dressing room, because he’s such a big player because he’s won everything for them.

“Maybe in a year’s time he says I’m going, then they bring another one in, but the timing is off for that… [Achraf] Hakimi is the next one.”

It will be interesting to see what the Spanish side elect to do next, whether it turns out to be Hakimi or if they push for Alexander-Arnold.