Alan Shearer has suggested Inter Milian’s Denzel Dumfries as a potential replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold at the Liverpool – after Arne Slot insisted he has “confidence” in Conor Bradley to make his case as his successor at right-back.
After months of speculation over his future, Alexander-Arnold confirmed his intention to depart Anfield at the end of the current season as a free agent. With the England international presumed to be bound for Real Madrid, it remains to be seen how his boyhood club will fill the void.
Departing as a two-time Premier League victor after the Reds secured the title last month, the 26-year-old has been an important component in this triumph. However, Northern Irish defender Bradley has proven himself to be an able deputy in Alexander-Arnold’s absence after breaking into the Anfield set-up in the past couple of seasons.
The 21-year-old, who is also a Liverpool Academy graduate, has been mooted by many observers to be the natural successor to his outbound teammate in recent times. However, some concerns do abound over the youngster’s fitness, with Bradley having missed significant periods of the current campaign through injury.
Now, Premier League legend Shearer has offered up a potential alternative replacement for Alexander-Arnold – if the Reds do go into the transfer market to mitigate the loss. Speaking to Betfair, the Newcastle United icon said: “Although Denzel Dumfries plays in a completely different system with Inter Milan, there’s no doubt that when I’ve seen him in that system, he’s shone.
“His energy has been incredible and the most impressive thing for me is how good he’s been in forward positions,” he continued, as he assessed the Dutchman’s merits, following his strong performances en route to the Champions League final this term. “He got a couple of goals, the assist in the [Champions League] semi-finals.
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Moreover, the ex-Blackburn striker is convinced that opportunity to work alongside compatriot Slot could prove to be an attractive prospect for Netherlands international. He opined: “Defensively is a different question, but certainly offensively he’s a very, very good player. Arne Slot will know him better than anyone being a fellow Dutchman.
“Signing for Liverpool would be an option, but he’s got the chance of winning the Champions League and he’s also got a chance of winning the league so he’s obviously in a very healthy position.”
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As for Bradley’s situation, there is no doubt that Slot is willing to give the prospect the opportunity to stake his claim for a starting XI spot moving forward. Confirming that the full-back will start against Arsenal this weekend, he said: “Conor will start, he needs playing time, games under his belt to be prepared for next season.
That said, the former Feyenoord boss was honest in his assessment of the player’s progress this term, as he admitted that the defender’s fitness has hampered him. He added: “Unfortunately he hasn’t been fit all season but to become a good player you have to be fit all season but we have a lot of confidence in him as a very good full-back for Liverpool.”
The Anfield head coach also offered up his thoughts on the impending exit of Alexander-Arnold, after his long-awaited announcement earlier this week. Slot added: “I am not here to tell the fans how they should react.
“We are all disappointed but Trent is the first one also who he said he would prefer us as a team and a club not to be not too much distracted by this announcement.
“I am hoping all the energy on Sunday goes to the players and less as possible to Trent – unless it is positive then they can do whatever they want.”
