LIVERPOOL are ready to play hardball with Real Madrid over Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The LaLiga giants are hoping to persuade the Reds to let Alexander-Arnold go for a token £850,000 in time to play in the Club World Cup next month.
But Anfield chiefs are in no mood to make life easy for Real.
They are unhappy how information about their pursuit of TAA was leaked at key moments in the season.
Shortly after rumours emerged that the Spanish side were trying to sign him in January, the right-back put in a terrible performance in the 2-2 draw with bitter rivals Manchester United.
So Liverpool do not regard the fee — again leaked through Real’s mouthpieces in the Spanish press — as a good enough reason to let Alexander-Arnold go before his contract expires on June 30.
He is currently with the squad in Dubai on something of a leaving do.
Some feel Liverpool might benefit next season if as many Real players as possible were involved in the month-long Club World Cup in the heat of an American summer.
Their first game is on June 18 in Miami.
But unless Real improve their offer, the Reds are prepared to make the player and his new club wait.
Meanwhile, the Merseysiders have made a decisive move to replace TAA by triggering the £33.6million release clause of Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong.
The Holland wing-back, 24, is also a target for Bayern Munich.
But he is thought to be keen on a move to Anfield to play under fellow Dutchman Arne Slot, and talks between his agent and the Reds are well advanced.
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