Liverpool transfer blow as Real Madrid seals bargain deal for defender

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Liverpool FC NewsFeaturesTransfersLiverpool has been strongly linked with Denzel Dumfries, but the Dutchman is set to join Real Madrid following the departure of Dani CarvajalDenzel Dumfries is set to join Real Madrid(Image: Getty Images)Denzel Dumfries is reportedly set to join Real Madrid, ending speculation that he could move to Liverpool this summer.The Dutch defender has a modest €20 million ($23 million) release clause in his Inter contract, which becomes active next month, and Madrid has promptly moved to secure his services.Liverpool had been linked with Dumfries, in large part due to the injury issues that the Reds' squad suffered with at right-back this season, but he is set to move to Spain instead, according to Fabrizio Romano.Liverpool reportedly contacted Inter about the possibility of signing Dumfries in January after Conor Bradley suffered a season-ending knee injury, but the Reds were informed that a mid-season deal would not be possible.The move to Madrid for Dumfries is an intriguing one and raises questions about what the future holds for Trent Alexander-Arnold at Los Blancos.Alexander-Arnold only joined Madrid last summer but is already preparing to work under a third manager, with Jose Mourinho set to return for a second spell in charge of the club.Alexander-Arnold played under Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa this season and was in and out of the team due to fitness issues as well as the presence of Dani Carvajal.Carvajal, however, left the club at the end of the campaign, 24 years on from first joining the Madrid academy as a boy.With that being the case, it seems as though Dumfries is primarily being signed as a replacement for Carvajal rather than to threaten Alexander-Arnold's position.Trent Alexander-Arnold joined Real Madrid last year(Image: Guillermo Martinez/NurPhoto)However, Dumfries will have designs on establishing himself as Madrid's starting right-back, and his superior defensive qualities to Alexander-Arnold could appeal to Mourinho, who is famously pragmatic.Mourinho has agreed to return to Madrid on a three-year contract, having somewhat restored his coaching reputation with an unbeaten season at Benfica.That deal will only remain valid if Florentino Perez remains in his role as the club's president.A presidential election is due to be held on June 7, with Perez running against Enrique Riquelme. Perez is expected to win, despite overseeing two trophyless seasons with Madrid.Perez has been Madrid's president since 2009, and was also previously in the role between 2000 and 2006.Choose Liverpool.com as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Liverpool FCTransfers