Barcelona have reportedly made a decision over whether they will pursue a move for Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The Merseyside-born right-back has been at his boyhood club Liverpool since the age of six and has made 325 first-team appearances in total across all competitions since and including his debut in 2016.
Alexander-Arnold is widely regarded as one of the best right-backs - particularly from a creative perspective - in Europe, chipping in with 19 goals and 83 assists for the Reds, and he was a key cog in the Jurgen Klopp machine during his legendary spell in charge of the club.
The 25-year-old has won eight trophies at Liverpool, including the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and two EFL Cups, and he is hoping to lift more silverware with the club this season under new boss Arne Slot.
However, speculation over Alexander-Arnold's long-term future at Anfield has been rife for some time, with current contract due to expire in the summer of 2025.
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Barcelona opt against Alexander-Arnold transfer
Alexander-Arnold has hinted that he would be open to extending his contract at Liverpool, admitting that he is "excited" for the future of the Reds and that one of his 'aims' is to captain the club.
Nevertheless, Spanish giants Real Madrid continue to be linked with a move for Alexander-Arnold, who is believed to have been identified as a potential long-term successor to 32-year-old Dani Carvajal.
Barcelona have also been credited with an interest in Alexander-Arnold, with the cash-strapped La Liga leaders aware that they could secure the services of the Englishman for free next summer if he were to turn down a new Liverpool deal.
However, according to reports in Spain, via Football365, Barca will not follow up their interest in signing Alexander-Arnold 'due to the preferences' of teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
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Alexander-Arnold signing could be 'detrimental' for Yamal
The report states that the characteristics of right-sided defender Jules Kounde - his 'defensive solidity, combined with his ability to contribute in attack' - has proven to be the 'ideal complement' to Yamal on the right wing.
Kounde has played in all 13 of Barca's La Liga matches under new head coach Hansi Flick this season, and the Frenchman is said to have given Yamal 'the freedom to display his attacking ability'.
Yamal is said to prefer to play next to Kounde on the right side of the pitch and the potential arrival of a player such as Alexander-Arnold could be perceived as a 'detrimental move' for the 17-year-old prodigy, who has recorded six goals and eight assists in 14 games for Barca across all tournaments this season.
As things stand, Real Madrid appear to be the clear frontrunners to sign Alexander-Arnold if he were to leave Liverpool, but The Athletic claims that the Reds have not given up hope of keeping their vice-captain beyond the current campaign.
Oliver Thomas
