Chelsea Boss Rosenior Eyes Real Madrid’s Alexander-Arnold as First Major Transfer Target

Liam Rosenior reportedly seeks to bring the English international back to the Premier League amidst injury struggles and competition in Spain.

January 9, 2026

1 minute read

Chelsea Boss Rosenior Eyes Real Madrid’s Alexander-Arnold as First Major Transfer Target — Rosenior Targets Alexander-Arnold

Thomas King works as part of the editorial team at Nile1, contributing to the preparation and editing of news content in accordance with the website’s editorial policy and based on verified sources and internal editorial review prior to publication. The published content reflects the editorial stance of the website and does not necessarily represent a personal opinion.

Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior is set to oversee his inaugural match tomorrow as the Blues face Charlton in the FA Cup third round. Rosenior aims for a positive start, hoping to guide the team back to winning ways.

Behind the scenes, discussions are already underway between Rosenior and the board regarding the upcoming transfer windows. While no signings have been finalized, the former Strasbourg manager has reportedly made his first significant demand to the club’s hierarchy.

According to Fichajes, Rosenior is keen to bring Real Madrid right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold to Stamford Bridge. This comes less than a year after the English international joined the Spanish giants on a free transfer from Liverpool last summer.

Alexander-Arnold’s debut season with the La Liga side has been hampered by injuries and stiff competition from teammates Federico Valverde and Dani Carvajal. This situation has led many to believe that Alexander-Arnold could be open to a return to England in the near future to re-establish his form.

Alexander-Arnold Firmly in Madrid’s Plans

Despite Dani Carvajal accumulating more minutes than Trent Alexander-Arnold this season at Real Madrid, Carvajal is 33 years old and recently recovered from an ACL injury. With his contract also expiring this year, signs point towards a potential changing of the guard at the Bernabeu.

Given a full pre-season, Alexander-Arnold is anticipated to thrive at Real Madrid next year. However, should he fail to impress once more with the European giants, his future could become a subject of close observation later on.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exceptional passing range and creative prowess would make him a strong fit for Chelsea at right-back. This move would be particularly strategic if Reece James’s future role within the team continues to be in midfield, where he has recently played with considerable effectiveness.

The coming months will undoubtedly shed more light on Alexander-Arnold’s situation in Madrid. Should he signal an openness to returning to the Premier League, Chelsea would likely be among the clubs eager to discuss such a proposition.

Transfermarkt values Alexander-Arnold at £60 million, a price point that would arguably make him a brilliant acquisition for the London club.