Arne Slot delivers cryptic update on Trent Alexander-Arnold contract situation as mystery surrounds defender's future amid free transfer interest from Real Madrid

Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool deal ends this summer, with little sign that he is close to signing a new one amid interest from Real Madrid. The Spanish giants want to sign the right-back on a free transfer and Slot has spoken about the situation.

Asked about the latest by Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher, Slot said: "My answer is always; 'You know my answer!' We prefer to talk about announcements, not about how things are going in the contract negotiations.

"He's had a good season so, hopefully he can also help us towards the end of the season by achieving what we all hope to achieve. Where his contract ends up is something for inside here, not when you are in here, when Richard [Hughes] and me are, and, of course, it's also about Trent."

After a week in which new deals were announced for Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, whose contracts had both been up for renewal, the lack of clarity on Alexander-Arnold is conspicuous by its absence. There is continued optimism in Madrid that he will head there this summer.

Alexander-Arnold has missed over a month with an injury that threatens to ruin what could well be his final few weeks as a Liverpool player. His team-mates would wrap up the Premier League title this weekend if they beat Leicester and Arsenal lose to Ipswich.