Arne Slot has said there is one positive to Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving Liverpool: That finding a replacement for the Liverpool right-back will bring “new energy”.
The 26-year-old announced earlier this week that he is set to depart the Reds at the end of the season, ending his two-decade association with his boyhood club. But Alexander-Arnold’s confirmation brings to an end the three contract sagas that have dogged Slot’s first season in charge at Anfield.
Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah ultimately penned two-year extensions at Anfield following months of uncertainty, before Alexander-Arnold revealed his decision to leave. He is expected to join Real Madrid this summer, although no confirmation has yet materialized.
Slot certainly doesn’t want to lose Alexander-Arnold, but the Dutchman admitted the scenario could have been much worse.
“If I had to choose between replacing one of the three or all three, I would have definitely picked the first option,” said the former Feyenoord boss.
“Of course, I was hoping all three of them would stay, so it’s still a bit of a disappointment that one of them decided to leave this club.
“But I’m very, very happy that Mo and Virgil extended their contracts – and that should not be forgotten.”
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Now the search for Liverpool’s next right-back begins. Conor Bradley is the obvious choice to replace the outgoing vice-captain – and is due to start against Arsenal on Sunday – but he has deployed others in that role this season.
Joe Gomez, Jarell Quansah and Curtis Jones have all filled in due to injury earlier this campaign, and Slot mentioned the trio as possible options on Friday when asked if he had to sign a new right-back this summer.
“If I could make the choice, I would prefer Trent to stay,” Slot said ahead of the Arsenal clash.
(Image: Getty Images)
“But it also gives a bit of new energy. I’m not going to change everything, but it’s different. Trent playing or Conor playing, or Joe Gomez playing, or Curtis Jones playing – so it does bring up the thing I like most about this job I’m doing.
“I like finding answers for the qualities we have now in our team, because Conor brings in different qualities than Trent brings in.
“It also gives me a bit of energy. It always gives you energy if new players come in as well, or if you’ve just joined a new club.
“Last year, all of them were new for me. Trent leaving doesn’t always have to lead to something negative, let’s put it that way.”
