Trent Alexander-Arnold is an elite full-back and he has been one of the best in his position for the last few years. This time also coincided with a golden era for Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp, as the Reds lifted every single trophy available during the German’s nine-year spell.
Alexander-Arnold was one of the success stories of this period as he emerged from the club’s academy ranks just as Klopp’s winning machine was taking off.
At 25 years old and having been at the top of the game for a few years, the right-back is in line for a bumper new contract as he enters the final year of his current deal with Liverpool.
The Merseysiders are going through a huge transition period after Arne Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp as manager, with a new sporting director in Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards also returning to the club.
Considering all the changes happening on and off the pitch, the Reds are drifting towards the abyss as Alexander-Arnold as well as Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are free to sign a pre-contract agreement with another club from January 2025.
So far, no extension has been agreed while the player refuses to publicly discuss his future but Liverpool are eager to retain their home-grown star and will need to put together a wonderful offer.
Thus, it is no surprise that Real Madrid want to express their long-term admiration by signing the England international to replace club legend Dani Carvajal. Just like the European champions did with Kylian Mbappe, they would offer Alexander-Arnold a huge signing-on bonus and a lucrative salary should he join for free.
The Liverpool star has been urged to land a record-breaking contract as he would be “getting £500k-a-week” by joining Real Madrid. According to former England and Wrexham goalkeeper, Ben Foster:
“You have probably £600k-a-week there between [Virgil] van Dijk and Mo Salah alone, them two.” Foster told his YouTube channel.
“About Trent Alexander-Arnold, he knows that if he signs a new four, five-year contract, he is straight away a £100 million asset. If somebody wants to buy him when he signs a new contract, it’s £100m minimum, absolute minimum. But Trent knows that, so he can say, right, you make me the highest-paid player in the Premier League and I will sign a new contract. And I could see that happening as well. He could hold out for it because if he goes on a free transfer to Real Madrid, he’s getting £400k, £500k-a-week, he will.”
Alexander-Arnold has made over 300 appearances for Liverpool since breaking into the senior team as he won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.
Trent’s importance
The new Liverpool manager will be desperate to keep Alexander-Arnold for his leadership and simply because there are not many full-backs with a better command of the ball.
Slot’s reign in the job began with a below-par opening half against Ipswich Town during which they struggled for intensity but produced a much better showing in the second half.
Alexander-Arnold was immense in that turnaround as he provided a sublime pass for Salah to set up Diogo Jota’s opener. With that in mind, all eyes will be on the Dutch manager to see if he can deliver and Liverpool tickets will be strongly in demand for the 2024/25 season.
Salah then combined with Dominik Szoboszlai to secure a massive result for the Reds who started the new era with maximum points. That match-winning display will have no doubt pleased Slot who became the first Liverpool manager to win his first match in charge since 1991.
The overall expectation has been a radical switch from Klopp’s heavy metal football to a more controlled tempo under the Dutchman, yet Liverpool still carried the direct threat that was notable under their ex-manager.
Regardless of the progress of their evolution with the new tactical ideas, Liverpool knows that they cannot afford to lose Alexander-Arnold and they must act fast to agree on a new deal and ward off suitors from abroad.
In a summer of complete inactivity regarding new signings at Liverpool, sorting the futures of their current stars is as important as recruits for The Reds. Here are three of the club’s highest earners, contract extensions would demand significant investment while failing to get a transfer fee for either of them would be detrimental in terms of securing expensive replacements.
On the other hand, reports indicate that the player’s determination to avoid public conversations about his future may mean that an agreement could be in fact close and it will be swift.
As members of the media attempted to speak to the defender after his impressive performance against Ipswich Town on the opening day of the 2024/25 season, he politely declined.
It could also be that Alexander-Arnold is carefully contemplating his future depending on how the team evolves under Slot, but there is no doubt that he is already a Liverpool legend. Staying to win a few more titles under Slot would cement him in the club’s history books, but a transfer to Madrid may also be the right move at the right time.
The 25-year-old has seen his stock fall in the last couple of years as worries about his defensive awareness became a full-blown weakness for opponents to exploit. Alexander-Arnold ultimately lost his place in the England squad for a while until Klopp repurposed his role to an inverted full-back to cover his deficiencies and give the team more balance.
A move away from his comfort zone will expose Alexander-Arnold to a different style of football, culture, opponents and fans which could revive his career alongside world-class teammates. Playing for the famous Los Blancos where the expectation levels are different and his weaknesses may be less exposed could be a no-brainer for the Englishman.
He will be able to showcase his marvellous talents in front of a new set of audiences while increasing his already large trophy cabinet at a super club. Pertinently, Alexander-Arnold can follow in the footsteps of David Beckham, one of his idols, by signing for Madrid and making a fortune while playing at the peak of his powers.
There is seemingly no bad decision for Alexander-Arnold to make come the summer of 2025.
