Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future is still uncertain – but a former Liverpool player believes one thing could heavily influence his decision.Alexander-Arnold, 26, is out of contract at the end of the 2024/25 season, with the player thought to be admired by Real Madrid.
The academy graduate has won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Club World Cup and two Carabao Cups with his boyhood club, but as of January 1, 2025, he will be free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club.
But he will leave for free if no new contract can be agreed upon by the club and the player.The England international has still played an integral part in Arne Slot’s side’s early season success, playing 18 times with Liverpool currently sitting top of the Premier League and the 36-team Champions League group phase.But former Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson believes a key thing could influence the player’s future.
“If Liverpool win the Premier League, then I believe he [Trent Alexander-Arnold] will stay,” Johnson told Betfred.“I don’t think he wants to leave, and I don’t think Liverpool want him to leave, but the longer this goes on, then the less likely it is that he will stay.“He’s going to be at Liverpool or Real Madrid next season.
I don’t believe he’ll go anywhere else, and I don’t believe any other club can compete with them two. If Liverpool win the league, then I think he’ll stay.”If Johnson’s prediction is correct, this will be music to most Liverpool fan’s ears, as replacing a player of such quality would prove costly.
The England international has kept tight-lipped about his future and frustrated fans on Friday, after Liverpool posted a video of the defender to their social accounts without an update on his contract negotiations.
The 26-year-old is free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs including Madrid from the start of January.And it now appears Madrid are pushing ahead in their attempts to sign the full-back.talkSPORT report that Madrid have officially informed Liverpool they intend to sign Alexander-Arnold.
While the Spanish giants are not obliged to inform Liverpool of their intentions, sources close to the European champions say they want to be respectful to the Merseyside club.Real Madrid are currently operating without their first choice right-back, Dani Carvajal, who suffered an ACL injury in October – and are keen to find a long-term replacement for the Spain international.
Alexander-Arnold is seen as the ideal choice and is also known to be close friends with Jude Bellingham, who was spotted swapping shirts with his England teammate after the midweek Champions League match at Anfield.
Liverpool are hopeful of convincing Alexander-Arnold to stay along with two other teammates, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, who are also out of contract at the end of the season.Speaking last month after returning from international duty with England, Alexander-Arnold said he did not want to end his career with any regrets.
“This was a conversation I had last camp with (Eberechi) Eze when we’re going to Ireland,” Alexander-Arnold said.”I was on the coach down to the airport and we had this conversation. I said, you know, that there’s a chance I may never win another trophy in my career again. There’s a chance of that. There’s a chance I win many, many more.