Michael Owen has said Conor Bradley is ready to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold as Liverpool’s first-choice right-back and “deserves his chance”.
The fallout continues from Alexander-Arnold’s announcement on Monday that he will leave his boyhood club at the end of the season, but it does mean that Arne Slot finally knows what group he is working with as he heads into the summer.
The Reds are expecting a busy window, something Virgil van Dijk has twice referenced, while Slot has said there will be upgrades to the squad. Right-back is now a position Liverpool will need to strengthen. In fact, it is now the only area in the squad where there aren’t two options heading into the summer.
Another player will be needed to complement Bradley, but it is uncertain whether the Northern Irishman will become Liverpool’s new first choice or if a direct replacement will be bought to replace Alexander-Arnold.
Speaking after Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to Chelsea, before Alexander-Arnold’s announcement, Owen discussed Liverpool’s summer transfer plans and said Bradley is now ready to step up.
“People have got this idea – go and get four players and spend a fortune,” the former striker told Premier League Productions. “Go on, where? Right-back you probably don’t have to. A young kid you’ve brought through for a long time.
“Left-back is where Liverpool are going to impress,” Owen added. “[Milos] Kerkez is the one everyone is talking about at Bournemouth so there is £50-60 million that Liverpool are going to invest.
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“They might go and get a central defender but it’s not going to be £50-100 million. Now say are they going to spent £50-100 million to sit behind Virgil van Dijk on the bench for the season?
“That’s only cover. You can get a free transfer, everyone wants to come to Liverpool.
“Straight away, you have to spend big money on a left-back. You might want cover at right-back if but, again, you don’t need to spend massive money and Conor Bradley deserves his chance.”
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Elsewhere, Owen expects Liverpool to sign a striker given the team’s issues in the no.9 role. Between Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota, have scored two goals since late January.
“If Darwin Nunez leaves, maybe Jota, you could argue they’ll get an attacking player to replace Darwin Nunez, so they might have to spend decent money there.
“That’s two positions, then all you need is cover at right-back. They’ve already brought a goalkeeper in and [Caoimhin] Kelleher is probably going to leave, so there’s another.”
