Liverpool will have high hopes that they can persuade Trent Alexander-Arnold to extend his career at Anfield.
The Englishman’s current terms are set to expire in 2025, prompting serious interest from European heavyweights Real Madrid. Los Blancos continue to monitor the content’s top talents on expiring contracts, including Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies.
New sporting director Richard Hughes has since reportedly made it a ‘priority’ to sort out the No.66’s contract situation.
“The ongoing speculation around Alexander-Arnold is inevitable. Every top club in Europe will be keeping a close eye on developments now he is in the final year of his deal at Anfield. He could sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club in just over five months,” James Pearce reported for The Athletic.
“Liverpool are desperate to avoid that and sorting out Alexander-Arnold’s contract is a priority for new sporting director Richard Hughes. The club’s vice-captain is on holiday after the Euros and is looking forward to working with Slot when he reports back to Kirkby in early August.”
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Meanwhile, the current expectation is that Virgil van Dijk will look to sign a new contract at Anfield and resist prospective interest from suitors.
What is Trent Alexander-Arnold’s position on signing a new contract?
Our 25-year-old fullback has left things somewhat ambiguous when it comes to his future at L4.
Sources close to the player have suggested he would be prepared to “wait things out” and see how a first season under Arne Slot pans out.
It’s not a situation we’d imagine our key decision-makers would be fine letting evolve on its own, particularly as it would mean a high-value player in Alexander-Arnold would then be at risk of being snapped up for free.
We expect Trent to agree to the new terms and to continue pursuing his dream of becoming Liverpool captain.
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If Trent is messing us about like MacManaman and Owen when it came to their final year, then we need to get tough. I imagine if he faffs about, stringing us along, he’ll find his place is taken up by Connor Bradley. Connor is too good to sit on the bench. He’s a better defender and is faster. Trent is the best long ball passer of the ball in the league, probably the world right now, but that’s not how Slot sets up his teams.
It should never have gotten to within the final year of contract to start negotiations. As a, club we should know better than most of the dangers of allowing other clubs, particularly foreign ones – to whom he doesn’t have a year left, just 6 months before they can make a huge salary and signing-on offer in lieu of transfer fee.
Regardless of manager and DoF changes everyone knew TAA is integral to our current and future, so why wasn’t the contract on the table in January, with a deadline of this summer to be signed or for the club to know to get the best fee for him?
Just over 5 weeks to end of window and still no contract offer. VvD and Mo in same position. How have 3 of our top players (albeit 2 of them are coming towards the end of the peak of their careers) been allowed to get to this position?
Totally agree, well put!