Liverpool looks as though it will soon have to come to terms with a future without Trent Alexander-Arnold, leaving Arne Slot with the biggest decision to make at right-back since the academy graduate was introduced nearly 10 years ago.
Alexander-Arnold is almost certainly heading to Real Madrid this summer. After months of speculation and a failed bid just before the January transfer window, reports have come to a head this week, suggesting that the Spanish giant is in the process of finalizing a deal.
No confirmation has arrived from either Liverpool or Real yet, and it might be some time before an announcement is made with the Reds aiming to complete their charge for the Premier League title. All roads seem to be leading to Madrid for Alexander-Arnold though, and he could be playing for them as early as June.
Having been Liverpool’s first-choice right-back for nearly a decade now, the 26-year-old’s departure will leave big boots to fill at Anfield. Conor Bradley has proven to be a more than able deputy over the last year or so, but will Slot choose to go with the Northern Irishman, or will he look elsewhere for Alexander-Arnold’s replacement?
Our writers at Liverpool.com have had their say on what the Reds should do this summer…
Matt Addison – Milos Kerkez can switch the emphasis
Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of those players who will only be properly appreciated when he isn’t there anymore. I really like Conor Bradley, but there is a gap between the two if we’re being honest.
In part, that is not just in terms of quality: Alexander-Arnold, frankly, is unique. There is no other right-back who plays the role as he does — and he has already changed the way that full-backs interpret their responsibilities.
For that reason, replacing Alexander-Arnold directly is impossible. There is no point trying to replicate him, because it won’t be as good. Instead, Liverpool is going to have to change the way that it attacks, at least to some degree.
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For me, Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez looks like the obvious option — and yes, I’ve not forgotten that he plays on the left. My solution would be to switch the emphasis in the Liverpool attack from the full-backs to the other side of the field, in part.
If Liverpool had Kerkez on the opposite flank, for instance, he would offer a greater attacking threat. Bradley and whoever else came in to share the right-back minutes could then be more conventional than Alexander-Arnold.
Given how Alexander-Arnold has come to play the position and that no one else does it like him, there is no merit in trying to find another version of him. Instead, Arne Slot is going to have to get creative.
James Martin – Jeremie Frimpong can cover two positions
It’s not exactly an original take, but I’m all aboard the Jeremie Frimpong train. The fairly major caveat is that I’m not boarding it in the expectation that Liverpool would be getting a like-for-like replacement.
To be honest, no right-back is exactly like Alexander-Arnold, and Slot will need to work out how he is going to make up for the loss of such an exceptional playmaker. But as more orthodox attacking full-backs go, it doesn’t get much more exciting than Frimpong.
I don’t want Liverpool to simply forget about Conor Bradley, who has earned the right to be firmly in the conversation when it comes to taking over permanent duties. But his injury record leaves a lot to be desired, and that’s without him ever having faced the strains of week-in, week-out football at the highest level.
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He and Frimpong could compete for the starting spot at Anfield. And the Netherlands international is so attacking, he could give Slot an option higher up the pitch as well.
Even if Mohamed Salah stays, Liverpool could still do with someone to share a little more of the load. Frimpong has essentially been a right midfielder for Bayer Leverkusen under Xabi Alonso, and his attacking instincts are such that he would be well at home on the wing.
Enhancing the squad in multiple areas without forgetting about Bradley? It sounds like smart business.
James Findlater – Bradley needs some help
I love Conor Bradley, so I’d absolutely be advocating for him to be Alexander-Arnold’s long-term heir. However, I do have concerns over his fitness, and while I have absolutely no concerns about his ability, I just wouldn’t be comfortable going into next season if Liverpool had to rely on him playing the majority of games.
I get the links with Frimpong, but I’m not too sure about getting someone in who might be even more attacking than Alexander-Arnold. Considering he’s only 24 as well, it might feel like the door is being closed on Bradley becoming first-choice.
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Personally, I’d be looking for a more experienced option just to give Bradley some more time to bulk up and work on his fitness without feeling as though he needs to play every game. Who that option should be, I’m not quite sure.
Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina could be a decent shout. At 28, Liverpool would be able to get a good few years out of him at least, and considering his contract expires at the end of the season, he wouldn’t even cost the club a penny. He might be the ideal solution to get Bradley ready.
Daniel Blackham – Bradley is the future
Conor Bradley is the future in the right-back position, there’s no doubt about that. Liverpool has a strong enough defense, with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, to mean the right-back role isn’t exactly the most vital area of the team. Bradley can probably defend as well as Trent Alexander-Arnold, but obviously lacks the same on-the-ball technical ability.
The one thing Arne Slot needs to avoid when picking Alexander-Arnold’s replacement is this idea of inverting full-backs. Liverpool has enough technical ability in the middle of midfield, with Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai, to not need Bradley to plug into the middle as well. Whoever plays right-back next season needs to focus on solely that; playing right-back. Mohamed Salah doesn’t need anyone overlapping, he needs the ball played in behind for him to run onto, or to feet.
Doing too much more with the right-back position would be overcomplicating the situation, and risk creating gaps defensively for Van Dijk and Konate to have to fill.
