Liverpool might need to prepare for the possibility of playing without Trent Alexander-Arnold. While the club hopes his recent ankle injury is short-term, speculation is growing about a potential transfer to Real Madrid for the right-back.
Alexander-Arnold`s contract is nearing its final months. While extending contracts for other Liverpool veterans like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk involves discussions due to their age, securing Alexander-Arnold should be a priority unless his demands are unreasonable. He is only 26 years old, the team`s vice-captain, and a local player who has been with Liverpool since childhood.
Replacing him directly would be incredibly difficult. There isn`t another player with his exact skillset readily available. Any player who comes close to Alexander-Arnold`s abilities would cost Liverpool a significant transfer fee, while losing him to Real Madrid on a free transfer would be a major loss. There`s a slim chance Liverpool might receive a small fee if FIFA allows early summer transfers for clubs like Real Madrid competing in the Club World Cup, potentially allowing a transfer before his contract expires on June 30th.
To understand Alexander-Arnold`s impact, consider this: since the 2021-22 season, only a handful of elite attacking players like Mohamed Salah, Kevin De Bruyne, and Kylian Mbappe have more assists than him in league and European competitions. His assist numbers (38) are not just impressive for a defender; they are world-class for any attacking player.
His expected assists (xA) of 41.52 are only surpassed by Bruno Fernandes and Joshua Kimmich. Only Kimmich, a central midfielder for Bayern Munich known for dictating play, progresses the ball into the final third more often. Alexander-Arnold ranks among Europe`s best in progressive passes, expected possession value, chances created, and big chances created. He is also one of the best crossers in football, comparable to legends like Roberto Carlos and David Beckham.
Although this season might seem slightly less impactful for Alexander-Arnold, possibly due to tactical adjustments, he still ranks high in the Premier League for expected assists and chances created, even outperforming attacking players like Anthony Gordon and James Maddison.
He would likely excel in a Real Madrid team that typically dominates possession. While his defensive capabilities have been questioned at Liverpool, and top left-wingers can challenge him, Real Madrid`s setup, with a mobile center-back and a defensive midfielder, could compensate for any defensive weaknesses. Similar adjustments were made at Liverpool to allow him attacking freedom, and Real Madrid`s coaches could implement similar strategies.
For Liverpool, finding a suitable replacement in the transfer market will be a major challenge. While some midfielders or inverted full-backs might offer similar ball progression, replicating his final-third creativity is much harder. Finding a full-back who can control a game from the right flank like Alexander-Arnold is a rare find.
Reece James was once considered a potential rival for the title of world`s best right-back, but his demanding role at Chelsea has taken a toll. Perhaps Pedro Porro at Tottenham is the closest comparison, but he would likely be expensive and still not quite at Alexander-Arnold`s level.
Liverpool has a promising young right-back in Conor Bradley, and his good performances have led to suggestions he could be Alexander-Arnold`s successor. Bradley is a talented 21-year-old, and if Liverpool prioritizes strengthening their attack, promoting Bradley might seem like a cost-effective solution to replace a potentially departing player.
However, relying solely on Bradley would mean losing a player who contributes significantly: 1.2 chances created per 90 minutes, 0.17 expected assists, 10 passes (seven into the attacking third), and other elite attacking metrics. Only Alexander-Arnold himself can truly fill the void he would leave. His departure would require a collective effort from the entire team to compensate for his unique contributions.
Dominic Ashworth