Real Madrid open to considering January exit for struggling defender amid Chelsea’s interest

Real Madrid open to considering January exit for struggling defender amid Chelsea’s interest Real Madrid could consider offers for Trent Alexander-Arnold if his struggle for regular football continues, with Chelsea among the clubs monitoring the full-back’s situation ahead of the January transfer window.  According to reports from Bernabeu Digital , the defender’s uncertain role under Jose Mourinho has raised questions about his future, although neither a formal Chelsea bid nor an imminent departure has been confirmed. Alexander-Arnold joined Real Madrid from Liverpool in 2025 on a six-year contract, but competition for the right-back position has complicated his attempts to establish himself as a regular starter.  As such, Chelsea are said to be interested in exploring the situation, with manager Xabi Alonso in favour a reunion with the defender he previously coached in Madrid. Valverde’s emergence complicates Alexander-Arnold’s position Alexander-Arnold’s problem is not a lack of pedigree but his place in Mourinho’s preferred starting XI .  Federico Valverde has been deployed at right-back in recent matches, including Real Madrid’s 4-1 Champions League victory over RB Leipzig, while Alexander-Arnold remained on the bench.  Trent Alexander-Arnold is struggling for minutes under Jose Mourinho. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) The Uruguayan’s versatility has given Mourinho another option, even though Valverde is primarily a midfielder. Statistically, Alexander-Arnold has made just six appearances and 344 minutes across competitions in the 2026-27 season.  In La Liga, he has started three of his five appearances and accumulated 265 minutes. Those figures show the gap between being part of the squad and becoming an indispensable player.  Chelsea remain interested As reported before, Chelsea have emerged as a possible destination, with reports suggesting Alonso would welcome the opportunity to work with Alexander-Arnold again.  The London club’s interest has been linked to a desire to strengthen its right flank, although there is no confirmed agreement or formal bid from Stamford Bridge. Real Madrid might consider january exit for Trent Alexander-Arnold. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) Contractually, Real Madrid are under no immediate contractual pressure to sell as he has a contract until 2031, meaning any transfer would depend on the club’s valuation, the player’s wishes and whether a suitable offer arrived. January departure is possible but far from certain Real Madrid face a decision between continuing to back a player recruited for his technical quality and considering a sale if his role does not improve.  Alexander-Arnold’s ability to influence games with his distribution makes him a potentially valuable asset, but keeping an expensive specialist who cannot secure regular minutes also presents a squad-management question. A departure would not automatically solve every problem for either club, as Chelsea would need to assess how Alexander-Arnold fits into their existing options, while Real Madrid would have to consider whether losing him would leave them short of natural right-backs.  For now, the strongest conclusion is that Alexander-Arnold’s place in Mourinho’s plans deserves scrutiny, and Chelsea’s interest gives the story a credible transfer angle.  But a January move remains speculative: there is no confirmed formal offer, but if one arrives, Real Madrid might consider it.