After recent revelations, Liverpool are perhaps already planning for life after Trent Alexander-Arnold under Arne Slot next season.
Liverpool want to hand Conor Bradley a new contract very soon, a youngster who will now play an increased role under Slot moving forwards.
Richard Hughes and his team are expected to make a new signing at right-back, but they will compete with Bradley rather than arriving strictly as first-choice.
That being said, Liverpool might actually consider a Tottenham full-back as a smart Alexander-Arnold alternative, one of very few players who can get close to the Englishman’s creativity as a defender.
And perhaps Liverpool’s defeat to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final best delineated why a traditional full-back coming in wouldn’t suffice – Slot’s team missed Alexander-Arnold’s creativity.
Gary Lineker explains why Trent Alexander-Arnold is making the right decision
That being said, Gary Lineker gave his thoughts on Alexander-Arnold’s potential departure to Real Madrid on ‘The Rest Is Football’ podcast.
Lineker confessed that he thought the move could be ‘absolutely brilliant’ for the Liverpool man, who won’t be so sorely critiqued for his lacklustre defending at times.
Lineker said: “It looks like it might happen, but it’s not, we’re not sure yet. There’s obviously been an approach and he’s had a bit of stick from Liverpool fans and stuff.
“And it’s, I don’t mind saying, I think it would be an absolutely fabulous move for him. I think to play for Real Madrid is something that is very difficult to turn down.
READ MORE: Liverpool think they’ve just secured ‘exceptional’ star as their first summer signing for Arne Slot
“He’s been at Liverpool since he was a kid. It transcends him into a kind of another level when you’re playing for a club like that.
“I think it will be absolutely brilliant for him. He’s their sort of player because they like to see beautiful football and attacking football. He’s one of the best passes of the ball in the world’s game.
“We tend to focus in this country a little bit on the negative or the kind of weakness in a player’s game.
“Whereas over there, from my experience, they generally just focus on what you’re good at. So I think that will probably go away.
“I think it’s got to the stage now with the defending aspect of it, where if a winger goes past him, he gets stick.
“Now wingers go past full backs all the time, but nobody ever says anything. Now I know he’s not a great defender, but you can’t be great at everything.
“So it will be fascinating to see if it happens. I suspect it probably will. And I hope the Liverpool fans give him a really good send off, because I think for what he’s done for the club, he deserves it.”
Can Conor Bradley replace Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool?
As mentioned, Bradley would provide a very different skillset to Alexander-Arnold next season were he to be promoted to first choice.
Although, that’s not necessarily to say that Slot’s side would be hurt offensively – Bradley still boasts impressive numbers himself going forward when given a chance this season.
| Appearances | xG (per 90) | xA (per 90) | Tackles (per 90) | Interceptions | |
| Trent Alexander-Arnold | 28 | 0.07 | 0.07 | 2.82 | 1.26 |
| Conor Bradley | 12 | 0.12 | 0 | 1.46 | 0.73 |
Of course, it would make for a more accurate comparison had the duo played a similar amount of games.
And in addition, it should be recognised that Bradley’s minutes have often come in very different circumstances to Alexander-Arnold’s – he’s often playing as a substitute for 20 minutes at the end of matches.
But either way, there’s certainly still reason to be optimistic regarding how Liverpool can react to Alexander-Arnold’s exit.
That being said, Liverpool have identified one possible Alexander-Arnold replacement.
