Jose Mourinho's love for Denzel Dumfries means only one thing for Trent Alexander-Arnold

Real Madrid went all in to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool last summer transfer window, even spending an extra 10 millino euros on the England international in order to secure Dani Carvajal's successor's signing before the Club World Cup.

It took Trent a long time to get going in his new stomping grounds, but by the end of the season, he was one of the top performers for Real Madrid, standing out positively, as expected, for his creative capabilities and his ability to create chances from out of nothing. Trent was the team's leading producer of chances created by the end of the season, flying in those same pinpoint crosses and early through balls to the forwards that made him famous at Liverpool.

But this summer transfer window, Jose Mourinho is in charge, and while Trent is more determined than ever to prove himself at the Bernabeu after Thomas Tuchel unwisely snubbed him from the England World Cup squad this year, Mou has brought in his own personal pick at right back in the Netherlands' own world class player Denzel Dumfries.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's evolution could happen after all

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been one of the underrated standouts of the Real Madrid preseason thus far, but Denzel Dumfries has been getting more starts lately, with rumblings in the Spanish press that Mourinho could make his new signing the starter when the La Liga campaign begins with Matchday 1 for Real Madrid on Aug. 22 against Espanyol.

Jose Mourinho's love for the two time Champions League Finalist at Inter Milan is easy to see and even easier to understand. Dumfries is one of the most robust two way right backs in the game, with amazing work rate on both offense and defense. Mou values that defending a lot, and Dumfries is the kind of crasher into the box and into the final third without sacrificing on the defensive end that every top manager craves.

If Dumfries establishes himself as Mou's favored option and the superior defensive player, then he could move away from Alexander-Arnold at right back, just as Thomas Tuchel did for the Three Lions. And then with the question marks in the middle of the park, particularly in terms of playmaking beyond Bernardo Silva and Arda Guler (though the latter will be more of a 10), Mourinho could then try to turn to Trent in the middle of the park, which has been teased this preseason, too. Mou's affinity for Dumfries could be the turning point to Trent transitioning into a midfielder in his prime, as Joshua Kimmich did for Bayern Munich much earlier.