Liverpool manager Arne Slot says defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is “fully focused” on returning to fitness following reports that he in talks to join Real Madrid.
BBC Sport understands that Alexander-Arnold, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is in advanced talks with Real Madrid over a free transfer to the Bernabeu.
The full-back missed England’s World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia after sustaining an ankle injury in Liverpool’s Champions League last-16 defeat by Paris St-Germain in March.
Slot says the 26-year-old is only focused on returning from injury.
“His situation is that unfortunately he is injured. Otherwise people probably would have spoken about him having one or two brilliant performances for the England team,” he said.
“But he is injured so for him he is fully focused for his recovery and for us we are trying to help him to be back as early as he can.”
Alexander-Arnold is one of three high-profile Liverpool players out of contract at the end of the season, with captain Virgil van Dijk and forward Mohamed Salah yet to sign new deals at the club.
Salah said in January that an agreement with the club was “far away”, while Van Dijk said in March that he had “no idea” if he would sign an extension.
“It’s a situation that is there for eight or nine months now,” said Slot.
“These three players have performed so well under these circumstances. So no it does not affect me at all.”
Liverpool, who are 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League with nine games remaining, face Everton at Anfield on Wednesday (20:00 BST).