Manchester United’s chances of completing a potential move for Trent Alexander-Arnold could rest on one player moving in the opposite direction. And while Jose Mourinho might favour the move, Michael Carrick may not be as keen as he looks to maintain his current momentum.
Ex-Liverpool star Alexander-Arnold, 27, struggled to shine in his first season at the Bernabeu and was picked apart in the Spanish media as a result. Injury curtailed his progress in the first half of the campaign before he developed some consistency in the starting XI, ending his debut campaign with five assists in 30 outings.
There’s an added sense of mystery to the situation now Mourinho has returned to Madrid. ‘The Special One’ has never worked with Alexander-Arnold and has already hinted change is coming amid reports Denzel Dumfries is on the verge of joining from Inter Milan.
At the same time, Diogo Dalot has been mooted as another Mourinho signing and could move as part of a swap deal. Multiple Old Trafford icons have spoken positively about Alexander-Arnold making the jump to United, which has only encouraged talk of a Premier League return.
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Speaking to Hajper, Antonio Valencia was the latest to talk up the prospect of Alexander-Arnold crossing the forbidden divide: “Trent is a player I like a lot. He has a very good right foot, he crosses well, and he is a player who defends well.
“He would be very good for Manchester United. He knows the Premier League. He knows what it means to win the Champions League and the Premier League. He is a passionate player, and I would like to see him at Manchester United.”
A potential swap deal for Dalot seemingly doesn’t have much legs following reports Carrick wants to keep the Portugal international. Mourinho signed his countryman when he was at Old Trafford and has been linked with a reunion at Real.
Dalot, 27, hasn’t necessarily become the right-back enforcer many United fans wanted but holds value given he can cover both full-back positions. The defender joined from Porto in 2018 and could bring up a decade at United if he sees out his contract until 2028, with the option of an additional year.
Upon bringing his compatriot to England, Mourinho was gushing in his praise of Dalot and said at the time: “In his age group, he is the best full-back in Europe.
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View 2 ImagesMichael Carrick reportedly wants to keep Diogo Dalot amid talk Jose Mourinho wants him at Real(Image: 2026 Chris Brunskill/Fantasista)
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Valencia’s former team-mate, Wes Brown, has also advocated for United to make a move on Alexander-Arnold and recently told Compare.bet: “Manchester United would be a very good move for Trent Alexander-Arnold. What a player. He would really help how Michael Carrick wants to attack teams.
“I think it is clear he is not really enjoying himself at Real Madrid. He would be a great player to have, and I think anyone in the Premier League would want to sign him. Who wouldn’t have Trent in their team?”
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Carrick deployed Amad Diallo as a wing-back for portions of last season, with Noussair Mazraoui also in that rotation when fit. However, there is a sense United could do with a standout upgrade in the position.
Alexander-Arnold could well be that, just as Dalot may be a useful bargaining chip for any potential deal. However, the logistics of pulling off such a controversial switch this summer appear too great for United to overcome.
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