Liverpool fans are still coming to terms with the prospect of homegrown star Trent Alexander-Arnold swapping Anfield for Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer.
Liverpool tried to keep Alexander-Arnold but the full-back’s mind is seemingly decided on a new challenge in La Liga.
The England international will join the likes of Jude Bellingham in Spain, a player Liverpool were actually interested in signing themselves whilst Jurgen Klopp was still at the club.
And whilst Alexander-Arnold’s departure isn’t set in stone just yet, it seems as if Richard Huges and his transfer team will now be sifting through the market for replacements.
Moreover, with that mind, perhaps Liverpool could sign a Tottenham Hotspur player as a clever replacement.
Jamie Carragher explains why he’s ‘disappointed’ with Trent Alexander-Arnold
All that considered, Jamie Carragher explained what he was ‘disappointed’ about in regards to Alexander-Arnold’s rumoured exit on the ‘Stick to Football’ podcast.
Carragher admitted that his concerns were slightly different to most Liverpool fans – it’s not the defender leaving for nothing that is bothering the pundit the most.
He explained: “But where I’m at with it is, it seems like people have, there’s not one thing people are really… because it’s on a free or he hasn’t come out and told the club earlier, or when they put the bid in Real Madrid.
“People are angry at maybe, say, three or four different things. I’m not angry about this thing about him going on a free, really.
“I mean, in an ideal world, Liverpool get £70m, £80m and they can go and reinvest, but I always feel like you can’t have it both ways as a supporter, because if Liverpool sign someone on a free in the summer, we’ll all be delighted.
READ MORE: What Luis Diaz’s agents have now told Liverpool after interest from Barcelona
“Does that mean his former club should absolutely hate him? And I always think as well, when you’re a local player, you don’t cost anything.
“So Trent Alexander-Arnold going on a free, is like Virgil van Dijk leaving for £75m. Virgil van Dijk, we still break even. Liverpool have broken even.
“So I’m not angry with him going on a free transfer – would love money to replace him if he moves on, where I’m at is that I just think as a local player and a Liverpool fan, Liverpool are in a position, they have been the last five or six years where they’re competing for the league and the European Cup every year.
“So if you’re a Liverpool fan and a local player, I’m just disappointed that he doesn’t think this is it, in terms of like, you could… I’m putting myself in his position where I’d be thinking, we could go level with United here in the leagues.
“I’ve got another, say, seven or eight years left at Liverpool, I want to get up to three or four ahead of them – can we get another couple of European Cups?”
Who can replace Trent Alexander-Arnold at Anfield?
It’s worth noting that Carragher had an argument with Gary Neville about FSG as well – the whole Alexander-Arnold saga was a fiery affair.
In terms of who Liverpool could recruit to replace their homegrown star, there should be considerable funds available at Anfield.
Although, some will feel that Conor Bradley can step up for Liverpool now, perhaps with the addition of a bit more competition.
Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah are also both able to play on the right but neither can replicate the quality of passing or creativity that Alexander-Arnold offered Slot.
A unique talent, and one that Liverpool are understandably unhappy to lose.
