Real Madrid add Dalot and Porro to defensive shortlist as Alexander-Arnold doubts grow

Real Madrid have expanded their defensive shortlist ahead of the summer transfer window as doubts over Trent Alexander-Arnold continue to grow.

According to Spanish news publication SPORT, Los Blancos are looking to sign another right back in the summer and are considering Pedro Porro, Diogo Dalot and Kyriani Sabbe.

Alexander-Arnold joined Madrid last summer on a free transfer. Madrid ended up paying €10 million to bring him in early to play in the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.

He was considered a bargain acquisition for Madrid and a natural successor to long-serving duo Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez.

Carvajal is in the final year of his contract at Madrid, and there are no indications that the club want to keep him beyond this summer.

Vazquez moved to Bayer Leverkusen after seeing out his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu, paving the way for Alexander-Arnold to settle in.

However, nearly a year down the line, Madrid are starting to doubt the value of that investment. 

Alexander-Arnold’s quality on the ball has been the hallmark of his successful career. However, his off-the-ball quality has repeatedly been questioned.

The England international is hardly the best when defending 1v1 situations and is guilty of being caught out of position too many times.

Alexander-Arnold’s Madrid career has also been impacted by injuries, reducing him to 13 La Liga appearances and seven in the Champions League.

He has started just eight of those 13 La Liga games but has managed to deliver two assists and create three big chances, while averaging 1.2 key passes per 90 minutes.

With Alexander-Arnold struggling to mask his defensive vulnerabilities, Madrid have decided to explore other right-back options next summer.

Porro could be up for grabs if Tottenham Hotspur fail to avoid relegation. Dalot has two years left on his contract with Manchester United, while Sabbe is one of Club Brugge’s prized assets.