Liverpool Exclusive: FSG suffer £150m loss thanks to Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool supporters are still waiting for the wound to heal on Trent Alexander-Arnold and his imminent free transfer to Real Madrid.
The 26-year-old is expected to wave goodbye to his own and make the move to the 15-time European champions this summer, claiming a salivating signing-on fee and leaving his boyhood side for nothing.
Liverpool fans are up in arms about the situation, with Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah also among the big-hitters set to see their contracts expire in June – albeit in very different current situations to Alexander-Arnold.
Alexander-Arnold defended as ‘Liverpool lose out on £150m’
Alexander-Arnold is currently injured but may feature for Liverpool again before the end of the season, his potential reception a mixed one.
Supporters have been scathing on the whole, gutted by the fact they will not receive a penny for one of the world’s greatest right-backs.
TV commentator Ian Darke, speaking exclusively to Liverpool News, understands where the Anfield faithful are coming from, but has defended Alexander-Arnold on the whole.
Darke has appealed to Reds fans that should the England international have signed a contract extension on Merseyside, it may have seen his move to La Liga collapse for the want of securing Liverpool a fee of up to £150million.
“I can understand how Liverpool fans can’t get around the fact a player wants to leave a club as big as theirs, especially a home-bred guy like Alexander-Arnold,” he said.
“I know their argument. They seem to understand he wants to go and play for a club like Real Madrid, but why for no fee? Why has he let his contract run down and kept quiet? But if he’d said earlier in the season that he’d leave in the summer, he’d probably have got the treatment he’s getting now much earlier.
“I don’t blame him. He doesn’t owe Liverpool anything; they don’t owe him anything. They should take a kind, understanding view – but they’re not going to. They’ve missed out on potentially £150million, even if it’s not quite like the Sol Campbell transfer. For Liverpool to have got a fee, Trent would’ve had to sign a deal – but then he might not have got the Madrid move. He’s helped them win every trophy, given fantastic service, so you’d like to think he’d go with their very best wishes.”
Salah and van Dijk still in negotiations
Liverpool supporters will be more confident of holding onto talismanic figures Salah and van Dijk beyond this summer.
The duo’s respective camps are working away with the Reds behind the scenes to attempt to thrash out a resolution to their expiring deals, with Arne Slot potentially left completely exposed with his squad if they join Alexander-Arnold through the exit door.
| Liverpool – major contracts expiring 2025 | Joined |
| Trent Alexander-Arnold | Academy |
| Mohamed Salah | 2017 |
| Virgil van Dijk | 2018 |
It is a completely ridiculous situation Liverpool find themselves in, and will provide a huge learning curve moving forward on player contracts.