Real Madrid's Trent alternative? Diogo Dalot emerges as January right-back option as Los Blancos learn Man Utd asking price amid transfer interest in Liverpool's Alexander-Arnold

Madrid are on the hunt for a new right-back both in the short-term and long-term after Dani Carvajal was ruled out for the rest of the season having torn his cruciate knee ligament in October. Carlo Ancelotti has been forced to play Lucas Vazquez and Federico Valverde out of position in the meantime and there has been plenty of speculation that Los Blancos will make a move for Trent Alexander-Arnold in the summer as the full-back runs down his contract with Liverpool.

But Madrid are now looking at another in-form Premier League full-back. GOAL understands that the Spanish champions have enquired about signing Dalot from United and have been informed he would cost around €50 million (£40m) to land in January. Madrid's interest in the Portugal international, first reported by Spanish outlet Relevo, is believed to have begun when Erik ten Hag was still United boss. But it will not be easy for Madrid to convince United to sell the 25-year-old.

Dalot saw off competition from Aaron Wan-Bissaka to win his place back in the United starting XI under Ten Hag and new boss Ruben Amorim has made it clear that the full-back will have a big role in his team. The coach said last week: "He’s very powerful. We have to rotate him sometimes because although he always looks fresh, it’s not like that, he’s not a machine. He’s a very good player. He’s better on the right and we will play him there more [but] nowadays a player who can play on both sides is perfect because you can put him in different positions. I expect the same as you saw last season. A great player who can help the team. He's really a team player, you can feel it in the way he lives the game, so he’s very important for us."

The January transfer window is fast approaching, at which point Real's intent will become clearer. In the meantime, United earned an emphatic 4-0 win over Everton on Sunday to climb up the Premier League table and on Wednesday face the first big test of Amorim's tenure when they visit Arsenal. Madrid, who earned a 2-0 win over Getafe on the weekend, visit in-form Athletic Club on the same evening.