Real Madrid's pursuit of Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold appears to have hit a dead end, with the Spanish giants now accepting that signing the English defender during the current transfer window will be "almost impossible," according to Marca. Liverpool has shown no interest in parting ways with their key player as they continue their campaign for both the Premier League and Champions League titles.
Despite Madrid's strong interest and the player's apparent preference for an immediate move, Liverpool's stance remains firm. The Spanish club had initially targeted Alexander-Arnold for a free transfer in the summer but attempted to accelerate their plans following Dani Carvajal's long-term injury. However, Marca reports that Liverpool sees no reason to consider a transfer at this stage of the season.
In other transfer developments, Arsenal's Oleksandr Zinchenko could be headed for the exit door at the Emirates Stadium. The Daily Telegraph reports that Borussia Dortmund leads the race for the 28-year-old's signature, with the German club looking to strengthen their left-back position. Zinchenko, who joined Arsenal for £30 million from Manchester City in summer 2022, might not be Dortmund's only target, as The Sun suggests they're also considering Chelsea's Ben Chilwell as an alternative.
Meanwhile, PSV Eindhoven is standing firm on their stance regarding U.S. men's national team striker Ricardo Pepi. AS reports that despite interest from several Premier League clubs, PSV is reluctant to sell the 22-year-old, who has been in impressive form with seven goals in his last ten matches across all competitions. The Dutch club believes they could command a higher fee in the summer transfer window.
Manchester City continues to monitor Atalanta midfielder Éderson as a potential long-term successor to Rodri, according to Sky Sports. However, with Atalanta in contention for the Serie A title, a January move for the 25-year-old Brazilian appears unlikely.
In Spain, Benfica left-back Álvaro Carreras has rejected potential moves to both Barcelona and Real Madrid this window, as reported by Diario AS. The 21-year-old Spanish under-21 international, who impressed in Benfica's recent Champions League match against Barcelona, has a contract until 2029 with a €50m release clause.
Lastly, Barcelona has secured the future of Gerard Martín with a new contract until 2028. The 22-year-old defender, signed from fourth division side Cornellà in 2023, has established himself as Alejandro Balde's backup at left-back, making 18 appearances this season, including eight starts.
