Liverpool backed to make double defender transfer amid Conor Bradley doubts
Liverpool are already starting to cast an eye towards the summer transfer window with the Premier League title almost secured.
A 1-0 victory over Leicester City during the Easter weekend ensured that the Reds remained 13 points clear of Arsenal with five games left to play.
This means that the Premier League title could be wrapped up for Arne Slot’s side before Liverpool’s next game if Arsenal lose to either Crystal Palace or Bournemouth before the match against Chelsea.
Now, with just a few matches left to play, the club can begin preparing for the 2025/25 campaign.
Over the past weeks, Liverpool secured the futures of both Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah after the duo signed new deals. Now, club legend Mark Lawrenson believes the club must target two positions this summer to reinforce the squad.
Mark Lawrenson insists Liverpool must sign at least two defenders this summer
While the recent news surrounding Van Dijk and Salah has been extremely pleasing for the Anfield faithful, rumours surrounding Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future continue.
The 26-year-old is out of contract in the summer, and the Merseyside-born right-back is yet to renew.
There have been strong rumours linking Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid this summer as he is available to leave on a free transfer.
| Liverpool final five fixtures | Home or away |
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| Chelsea | Away |
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| Brighton | Away |
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While Conor Bradley has been touted as the England international’s successor if he does leave, Lawrenson believes that a right-back is still needed to reduce the pressure on the youngster, while he also expects a left-back to be signed.
“I think they might sign a left-back and a right-back,” he said on talkSPORT.
“And the thing about Trent, going once the guy comes in, he’s under pressure isn’t he?
“He knows that everybody’s kind of looking and thinking, ‘are you going to be as good as Trent Alexander-Arnold?’ In the times he’s played [Conor Bradley], he’s played very, very well.”
“It’s different when all of a sudden you know you’re going to play every single game.
“So I think they’ll sign a right-back, I think they’ll sign a left-back. Left-back probably more urgently than a right-back.”
Liverpool must prepare contingency plans for Trent Alexander-Arnold’s possible departure
As the weeks go on, the departure of Alexander-Arnold looks more and more likely.
The right-back was subject to the headlines again on the weekend as he smashed in a late winner over Leicester.
However, there has been no resolution to his future with his contract set to expire in just over two months.
Therefore, contingency plans must now be drawn up by Slot and the Liverpool board in case the right-back does depart in the summer.
While Bradley is no doubt an outstanding right-back, Lawrenson is right that throwing the Northern Ireland international into the deep end next season could end in disaster.
Liverpool have been encouraged to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong, who has had an outstanding few years with the German champions.
Nevertheless, the situation regarding Trent needs to be sorted out soon, or the saga could drag on needlessly throughout the summer window.