It is difficult to talk about the January transfer window without mentioning the current situation at Liverpool, who face a battle to retain three key stars.
Despite having had a phenomenal start in life under Arne Slot (rising to first place in the league and Champions League tables), there is plenty of unrest at Anfield.
That is, because the Merseyside club has not yet found a solution to the contractual disputes with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
While many expect Salah and Van Dijk to extend their deals, some fans now expect full-back Alexander-Arnold to leave; It's just a question of when.
The English star will be a free agent in the summer, but Real Madrid are interested in signing the player during the January window and saw a tentative proposal rejected.
Here, Mail Sport takes a look at the environment that could influence Alexander-Arnold's decision to move to Madrid or not.
Liverpool reject an offer from Real Madrid for star right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is interested in signing a new right back to reinforce his injury-hit squad.
Brothers – Tyler and Marcell
Anyone who knows Alexander-Arnold will know that his brothers are his best friends.
Both Marcell and Tyler, who is a director at PLG, the agency that represents the Liverpool star, have been part of his journey through professional football and remain closer than ever to this day.
The Liverpool star has previously spoken about his close bond with the duo, who have been regularly seen with Alexander-Arnold at finals and other important occasions.
Speaking to The Players Tribune earlier this year, he said: “My brothers weren't just my brothers, they were my best friends.”
“As I got a little older and rose through the Liverpool academy, Tyler and Marcel willingly sacrificed their own dreams for mine.
“I think maybe we all realized from a very young age that being a professional footballer was more realistic for me. And my parents did too. That's a difficult thing for a young person to understand.
“There were weekends when Mom couldn't take my brothers to their games because I had to be at the academy at a certain time, and they were always the ones who made the sacrifice. To this day I am incredibly grateful to both of them.
'Every step I took, we took. Every cap I got, we got. Every experience I had, we had. That's how it works where I come from.
Alexander-Arnold photographed with brothers Marcell (left) and Tyler (center) in 2019.
The trio of brothers have remained close throughout Alexander-Arnold's rise in football.
Friend – Jude Bellingham
Much to the frustration of Liverpool fans in recent years, Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham has become one of Alexander-Arnold's closest friends within the sport.
The pair had been inseparable at the Euros over the summer and strengthened their connection off the field with several trips during the offseason.
There was a time when it looked like their friendship could pay dividends for Liverpool, when Bellingham was linked with a move to Anfield before joining Madrid.
And now the tables may have turned, with fans recently accusing Alexander-Arnold of “flirting” with Madrid after naming two of his club's legends as his dream dinner guests.
In November, Bellingham was seen hoping to swap shirts with close friend Trent Alexander-Arnold after their Champions League encounter.
The Real Madrid star could not prevent his team's defeat against Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool when Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo scored for the hosts.
The England international was seen waiting outside the Liverpool dressing room at full-time hoping to swap shirts with close friend Alexander-Arnold.
Although the winger was not available to present it himself, teammate Ryan Gravenberch provided the assist as he entered the locker room and returned to present the shirt to Bellingham.
Alexander-Arnold and Jude Bellingham (right) have developed a close friendship
Many fans hoped Alexander-Arnold would convince Bellingham to join Liverpool.
Friend – Mohamed Salah
It is no surprise that, with the futures of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk at stake, Alexander-Arnold is also looking towards the exit door.
The trio have been essential to Liverpool's success over the last decade, and the England star has formed a particularly close connection with winger Salah.
In a recent interview with LFC TV, Alexander-Arnold admitted that the Egyptian was his closest friend at the club.
He said: “I would say Mo, if I'm honest, I would say Mo and I, how long we've known each other and how long we've played together.” Our bond and connection especially in the field.
'We just understand the way we play and we never complain about each other. We simply respect each other's playing style. Sometimes I overlap and he ignores me, but I know if I don't pass him he's thinking the same thing.'
Like Alexander-Arnold, Salah's future on Merseyside remains uncertain. Despite his stellar performances this season, there has been no progress in contract extension talks.
If the Egyptian decides to end his stay at Anfield, it is more than likely that Alexander-Arnold will do the same.
Alexander-Arnold previously stated that Mohamed Salah is his closest friend at the club.
The Egyptian winger could also leave Anfield in the near future amid a contractual impasse.
Bride – Estelle Behnke
Amid the current uncertainty over his future in Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold recently traveled to Venice with his influencer girlfriend Estelle Behnke on his day off.
The defender, who sparked rumors of his new romance last month, was photographed at the luxury Italian restaurant Regina Corner. The couple had been staying at the £1,5000-a-night Aman Hotel in the idyllic town.
Alexander-Arnold and Behnke, who were recently photographed in the 26-year-old's car as he left Anfield following the Reds' victory over Leicester City on Boxing Day, were thanked for “stopping by” the Venetian restaurant during his short trip.
The couple were also spotted at Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds and both tagged each other there in separate Instagram posts.
Alexander-Arnold started liking the model's Instagram posts on October 17, just a month after his split from Iris Law, whom he dated for five months after meeting at a Guess jeans photo shoot.
A friend said there is “no bad blood” between him and Law, but added that “being a WAG was never her thing.”
Alexander-Arnold and his Instagram model girlfriend Estelle Behnke recently went to Venice
Alexander-Arnold and Behnke sparked romance rumors in November when they were spotted together in Cheshire.
Alexander-Arnold previously attributed his success to his parents Dianne and Michael.
Parents: Dianne and Michael
The Alexander-Arnold family has remained close-knit throughout the full-back's rise to football stardom and he has previously attributed his success to his hard work.
Speaking to Mail Sport in 2018, Alexander-Arnold said: “I feel like I've been very lucky. “My mum and dad pushed education.
'To this day, this drives my little brother to keep going too. My older brother, too, is hard on my younger brother to move forward because education is a necessity in life, to have a good foundation and get a good job.
'My mom and dad pushed me to work hard in my early years in education. “If I wasn't in football, I'd probably still be studying, probably studying something related to sport.”
'When I was a child I focused on football and school. The most important thing to me is education and my family was very supportive of me to make sure I did the best I could. My mom and dad always knew that my dream was to be a soccer player but they also warned me that it doesn't always work.
“Obviously, every young person's dream is to be a footballer, but only one or two percent are lucky enough to see that dream come true.” The odds are against you becoming a footballer, so my family made sure I always had a backup plan.