Real Madrid has asked for Trent Alexander-Arnold to be released ahead of his June 30 contract expiry with Liverpool so he can join their Club World Cup squad for free.

Real Madrid has requested that Liverpool release Trent Alexander-Arnold for free to play in the Club World Cup group stages. The Spanish expect that Liverpool would give in and let the right-back join them for nothing before his contract expires on June 30. They haven't offered Liverpool money.

Following Alexander-Arnold's departure announcement last week, Real Madrid got in touch with Liverpool. The assumption at the time was that it was a negotiation to see what type of small fee Liverpool would take. Rather, all Real has asked for is Alexander-Arnold's early arrival.

The 26-year-old is part of Real Madrid’s squad heading to the US for the recently enlarged 32-team competition that begins on June 14. As a free agent, he is agreeing to a five-year deal with Real.

Real hopes that Liverpool would let go of the England international in exchange for him skipping the last month of his pay. However, since Liverpool will retain the player's registration until his contract expires, it seems that the move cannot be imposed without their approval. For instance, Alexander-Arnold cannot just leave.

According to Spanish sources, Real was willing to make an offer of between £500,000 and £850,000, but that is not thought to be part of their present plan. Alexander-Arnold is presently slated to miss the Madrid club's group games against Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia on June 18 and RB Salzburg on June 27.