Six moves Real Madrid should make in the 2025 January transfer window: Los Blancos must secure Trent Alexander-Arnold, find a loan for Endrick & sign some centre-back cover

Look away, Liverpool fans. All signs point towards Trent Alexander-Arnold wearing Madrid white next season. Unlikely fellow Reds with contracts due to expire, Alexander-Arnold is in his prime years, and has a minimum of five seasons left at the top level. He pretty much has his choice of club for the rest of his career. Jude Bellingham, a good friend of his, plays for Real. Sometimes, the maths is frighteningly easy.

The right-back has been linked with Madrid for some time now, and it is no secret that Los Blancos want him. He'd be a good fit, too - his fluid passing and eye for a long ball potentially working wonders with the pace of Mbappe and Vinicius Jr up front. The only worry for Ancelotti and co. could be a similar sort of turnaround that kept Steven Gerrard at Anfield 20 years ago.

Back then, Gerrard had his head turned by Chelsea. Everything seemed to point towards a move. But then came a U-turn and Champions League winner's medal - enough to keep him on Merseyside.

The point is, Madrid might be wise to make sure this move happens by striking a pre-contract agreement, before Alexander-Arnold has any second thoughts after claiming a Premier League title.

Madrid couldn't do anything to prepare for the kind of injury crisis that has rattled their backline this season. Freak knee injuries to first Carvajal, then Militao, couldn't have been prevented. Still, there were some rumblings last summer that Los Blancos could have done with an extra veteran defender, especially after club captain Nacho departed.

And after he wasn't replaced, Madrid have been left scrambling for answers. Antonio Rudiger has been as solid as advertised, but next to him has been something of a rotating cast of options. Raul Asencio has impressed in moments, but Ancelotti seems reluctant to let the academy graduate off the reins in big games. Aurelien Tchouameni (more on him later) has also failed to convince at the back (he simply isn't a natural defender). And with David Alaba still yet to recover from a serious knee injury of his own, there aren't any immediate options for internal replacement.

The only choice, then, is to survey what else is out there. There have been some links with Bayer Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah, but a short-term deal for him might be difficult. Bournemouth's Dean Huijsen has also come up, although he might not have the requisite experience. Either way, Los Blancos need to make something happen.

Endrick's high-profile arrival hasn't failed, but it hasn't really worked, either. It always seemed an odd decision to spend so much on a teenager when it was clear that Mbappe would be brought in to play the same position. Growing pains were inevitable, but the kid needed at least some minutes to actually endure them.

Instead, Endrick has been limited to sparse minutes, showing his outstanding potential in glimmers. There is absolutely a footballer here, but Madrid, right now, is not the place for him to thrive.

So, how to react? The rational course of action here is a sensible loan move, someplace where the teenager can play football reasonably free of pressure. This reeks of a mid-table loan, to a team that could really use a striker, and an injection of youthful energy. Sevilla, currently in 14th in La Liga and without Jesus Navas, could be a solid option. Looking abroad, a club such as Brighton, or even Champions League surprise package Brest might work.

Either way, as long as the Brazilian avoids a relegation battle, and is guaranteed minutes, he should get out of Madrid for the next six months. It's probably the only option for all parties.

Luka Modric insists on still being good at football. The Croatian really should be past it at this point, but even if his legs are no longer as fluid as they used to be, Modric remains an impact player for Los Blancos. Starts might be less frequent, but his 30-minute cameos are things of beauty, some vital pausa and cool-headedness added to the kind of chaos Madrid's matches often descend into.

His future has been the subject of speculation for some time now. It was assumed that he would leave at the same time as Toni Kroos, who retired at the end of the 2023-24 season. Since then, a Saudi Pro League move has been floated, while the occasional MLS chatter crops up. But neither is quite right - at least, not yet.

Madrid have improved since the start of the campaign, but still sorely lack the veteran leadership needed to get over the line. That won't magically change in the next 18 months. As long as Modric has something in his legs, Los Blancos need to make things work. Get the one-year extension out of the way now.

Tchouameni was a strange signing. Sure, Real needed a No.6 to replace the outgoing Casemiro. But was this guy the answer? The Frenchman is a wonderful footballer at times, a fantastic tackler who can read the game well. He can pick a pass, command space, and snuff out counterattacks.

But he has never really settled in Madrid. Whether it be the fact that he doesn't quite have the fluidity in his distribution, or has been hampered by individual mistakes, the France international looks misused and out of his depth. Los Blancos, in fact, are better off with Eduardo Camavinga at his position.

So, what to do now? Before Militao tore his ACL, this would be a no-brainer - cash in on Tchouameni. Now, things are a little more complex. He is needed for defensive cover, but if the stars align here, a centre-back arrives and the right money comes in, Tchouameni should be on his way out. Perhaps one that is more unlikely in January.

Here's a rumour that just won't go away. The consensus, at the moment, is that Alphonso Davies is probably available next summer. Contract talks are reportedly ongoing with Bayern, and there are rumblings that a deal may be reached at some point.

But that same story has been relayed for nearly two years now. In other words, no-one really seems to know what's going on.

Naturally, Davies has been linked with Madrid; he is a young exciting talent, who has already proved that he can be world-class. He will sell shirts in spades, and offer an immediate upgrade in a position of need.

Easy, right? This all assumes, of course, that Bayern are willing to sell. And the Bavarians are in a tricky spot. Unlike Alexander-Arnold, there isn't as much of an emotional attachment here. Bayern might not be so happy to let his contract peter out. Davies is a valuable asset, and if he doesn't sign a new deal, they might have to sell him at the right price. At the very least, Madrid should be in for him.