Trent Alexander-Arnold has long been linked with a move to Real Madrid, with Los Blancos understood to have coveted the Liverpool ace even before his international colleague, Jude Bellingham, moved to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Having been with the Reds for 20 years, spending his entire youth career as well as his professional career with the club, leaving the Anfield outfit would clearly be a huge wrench.
That emotional pull can’t be overstated, and may be the one thing which keeps the 25-year-old at the club during what’s expected to be the peak years of his career.
Of course, all the while a new contract has yet to be agreed and signed, there is always the possibility that the player’s head will get turned.
It’s believed that, insofar as it’s possible, Alexander-Arnold wants to play for a club that wins trophies and Liverpool would still, apparently, be a priority.
Trent won’t commit himself to Liverpool long-term
However, a refusal to commit beyond this season hasn’t calmed the nerves of the Anfield faithful.
“I want to be a Liverpool player this season (as a minimum) is what I will say,” he was quoted as saying by The Athletic (subscription required).
That’s hardly the ringing endorsement that Liverpool were probably hoping to hear from a player that, as a Scouser, knows exactly what it means to pull on the Red shirt.
Trent’s contract runs out at the end of the season and he will be free to talk to other clubs from the turn of the new year.
If the Reds still haven’t managed to sit the player and his representatives down to thrash out something around the negotiating table by then, the final few months of the season could prove hugely problematic for them in their attempts to keep potential suitors for Trent at arm’s length.
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