Liverpool face ‘catastrophic blow’ amid Trent Alexander-Arnold contract situation – Bardell
Liverpool face a “catastrophic blow” if they do not sort a new contract for Trent Alexander-Arnold, according to Dan Bardell.
Three of the Reds’ best players have contracts expiring at the end of the 2024/25 season and none have yet shown any signs of extending their Anfield stays.
Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are all nearing the end of their contracts with the Reds.
Real Madrid have been linked with a swoop for Alexander-Arnold [Fabrizio Romano, 17 July] and Sky Sports and talkSPORT journalist Bardell thinks Liverpool need to address the situation as an immediate concern.
Speaking exclusively to Liverpool News, Bardell said: “It’s so bizarre that Trent hasn’t signed a new contract yet.
“I know Liverpool have had a lot going on in terms of turnover at the club but to let Trent, Salah and Van Dijk go down to the last 12 months of their contracts is unheard of at the top level.
“I’m sure that they’ll be speaking to him soon but the fact that he hasn’t signed a contract yet with 12 months left, that’s a worry to me.
“If you look at Real Madrid and how they’ve used the Bosman market over the last five years, they’re the best at it.
“This is Liverpool’s poster boy, this is someone who’s come from the academy and won the Champions League and Premier League with the club.
“Liverpool will want to sit down and get that new contract agreed because you’re not going to find another Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“It would be a catastrophic blow to lose Alexander-Arnold.”
Liverpool need to extend the contract of Trent Alexander-Arnold
As Bardell said, Alexander-Arnold is who every Liverpool academy player aspires to be as he is one of the club’s greatest success stories.
He has managed to perfect his role of inverted wing-back that was initially introduced by Jurgen Klopp and has cemented himself as an integral cog in Liverpool’s first team.
So, it comes as no real surprise that Real Madrid are lingering and waiting for the exact right moment to pry the Reds academy graduate from his boyhood club.
Carlos Ancelotti has already welcomed Kylian Mbappe on a free this season and could well look to bring Alexander-Arnold to the Bernabeu next season.
Especially if the Reds don’t buck their ideas up and extend his stay with the club.
Although the likes of Jeremie Frimpong [SportBild, 13 June] and Lutsharel Geertruida have been reported transfer targets for the Reds, neither have the same capabilities as Alexander-Arnold.
Only time will tell what the future holds for the right-back, but one thing is certain, Liverpool can’t allow him to exit on a free transfer.
In other Liverpool news, FSG have made a decision on whether to invest in Ligue 1 side Bordeaux.
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