Liverpool fans had a few sleepless nights earlier this week after reports suggested Trent Alexander-Arnold might be considering a move to Real Madrid, with contact from the LaLiga champions.
Christian Falk’s claims were followed by The Independent’s Miguel Delaney, who suggested that Jude Bellingham could persuade the 25-year-old to join him in Madrid next year, given their strong friendship.
However, Ben Jacobs has provided some relief for Reds supporters by stating that Alexander-Arnold will soon hold discussions with Arne Slot.
The Liverpool manager already knows how he plans to integrate the player into his preferred starting XI and wants to make him part of the leadership team, aiding in new deal discussions.
Jacobs outlined: “Trent Alexander-Arnold will hold talks with Arne Slot. The Liverpool manager has already decided on where he will play and wants to include him in the players’ leadership team, which will help with any new deal discussions.
Slot is expected to share more details about Trent’s role after they speak face-to-face but has remained coy for now.
Liverpool are calm despite Real Madrid’s interest and are not planning for an Alexander-Arnold exit. Real are not actively working on a transfer at this stage.”
With varied updates on Trent, it can be hard to gauge his Liverpool future. However, it’s no surprise that Slot intends to keep the 25-year-old in the leadership group established by Jurgen Klopp.
The pair will hold in-depth discussions once Alexander-Arnold returns from his post-Euro 2024 holiday.
Some supporters may fear an exit now that he’s in the final 12 months of his contract, amplified by Bellingham’s potential interference.
However, there should still be ample time to resolve the situation before the end of the year.
With Liverpool’s other leaders like Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, and Alisson Becker now in their 30s, the new head coach will likely lean on Trent to become the team’s long-term driving force.
Alexander-Arnold will return from his break in early August and speak with Slot. Hopefully, they will soon reach an agreement that sees him commit his future to his boyhood club for a few more years at least.
