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Trent Alexander-Arnold could soon have competition for his spot at Real Madrid, barely a year after his move from Liverpool. The England international is one of five high-profile signings from last summer’s transfer window who already find themselves being lined up for replacement.

Technically, Real Madrid are seeking a successor to Dani Carvajal at right-back, but their pursuit of one of Europe’s most highly regarded players in that position means Alexander-Arnold may now have to watch his back.

It has not been an ideal start for Trent in Spain. No trophies, no goals, a few injuries, and a severed connection with his boyhood club, Liverpool, have made for a difficult debut season.

Now, the 25-year-old will have to compete with Denzel Dumfries, who is set to join Madrid after a solid five-year stint with Inter Milan. At 30, Dumfries brings experience and will pose serious competition. Despite playing fewer games, the Dutch defender enjoyed the stronger campaign overall.

Alexander-Arnold managed just 14 starts in La Liga during his first season. Given Real Madrid’s depth, stiff competition is nothing new, but it wouldn’t be surprising if his appearances don’t increase significantly next season with Dumfries in the mix.

Elsewhere, Marcus Rashford’s future remains uncertain following the end of his loan spell at Barcelona from Manchester United. The forward has been eager to make the move permanent, but Barcelona are hesitant to trigger their €30 million purchase option. Strangely, they had no issue spending €70 million on Anthony Gordon.

Rashford could still stay at Camp Nou, which might make Gordon more of a replacement for Robert Lewandowski, but for now it appears to be one Englishman stepping in for another. Rashford’s return of 14 goals was respectable, yet Barcelona are reassessing his cost-effectiveness and may move forward without him.

In the Premier League, Tijjani Reijnders’ fortunes have taken a downturn. He made an explosive debut with a goal and an assist, but since then has only managed one more assist and four additional goals, none coming after January. His future is now under scrutiny as Manchester City pursue one of Europe’s most sought-after midfielders, Elliot Anderson.

City are reportedly confident about landing Anderson from Nottingham Forest, though the deal would come at a significant cost. A major midfield overhaul is underway at the Etihad Stadium, with Bernardo Silva set to leave and Rodri entering the final year of his contract amid interest from Real Madrid. Reijnders’ place in Pep Guardiola’s plans is therefore far from secure.

Newcastle United, meanwhile, continue to struggle in their search for a consistent goal-scorer. Fifteen Premier League clubs – Manchester City, Brentford, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest, Arsenal, Leeds, Bournemouth, Brighton, Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Manchester United, Burnley, Tottenham, and Fulham – all had players who outscored Newcastle’s top marksman this season.

That’s a stark contrast to the previous campaign, when only Liverpool had a player above Newcastle’s Alexander Isak in the scoring charts. After his departure, Newcastle’s attempts to replace him have been fraught with difficulty. They missed out on multiple targets before overspending on Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, both of whom now face uncertain futures.

Woltemade, the pricier of the two at age 24, could be easier to offload, though likely not for the same amount Newcastle paid for him. The club’s recruitment team faces a major test this summer to strengthen their attacking options.

Over at Chelsea, their long-standing winger problem persists despite spending vast sums on wide players. Alejandro Garnacho, signed last summer after struggling for playing time at Manchester United, is now reportedly up for sale again. While Jamie Gittens has also underperformed, Garnacho’s higher profile makes him the player the club most hopes to attract interest for.

If Chelsea do manage to offload him, they’ll be forced back to the transfer market once more in search of a winger they can finally rely on to deliver consistent performances.