Trent Alexander-Arnold continues to be linked with a move away from Liverpool as he enters the final months of his Anfield contract
Former Liverpool defender Jason McAteer believes the “chips are stacked against” Trent Alexander-Arnold remaining at Anfield beyond the end of his current contract. And while the ex-Ireland international tipped Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk to sign extensions, he feels the vice-captain might believe he has achieved all he can with his boyhood club as Real Madrid continue to be linked.
Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Van Dijk are all inside the final months of their respective deals and have been the subject of constant speculation as a result, particularly the former who has been routinely named in connection with current Champions League holders Real Madrid.
All three can speak to clubs outside of England about a pre-contract deal in January and Madrid are believed to be monitoring Alexander-Arnold‘s situation at Anfield, with fewer than 100 days left before they can legally open formal discussions.
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The ACL injury suffered by Los Blancos right-back Dani Carvajal recently has only intensified talk of the England international pitching up in the Spanish capital on a free transfer next summer and McAteer, who was an FA Cup runner-up with the Reds in 1996, believes the No.66’s situation is different to Steven Gerrard’s 20 years ago, when speculation around a move to Chelsea persisted for the then club captain.
“The days of a one-club player are gone,” McAteer told Gambling Zone. “I don’t think you’ll see a Steven Gerrard again. I don’t really think it goes on anymore. There’s so much more to football now, you know, off-the-field contracts, lucrative deals elsewhere. Real Madrid changes the whole landscape for Trent as a person and as a sportsman.
“It opens his world up to different opportunities. It’s Real Madrid, it’s Spain, another language, another culture. He’s won everything at Liverpool. It’s not like he’ll look back at his career and wish he stayed back to win the league. Steven Gerrard did that. Steven’s objective in his sports career was to win the league at Liverpool.
“He almost did it, but it fell away at the end. Maybe if Liverpool had not won the league under (Jurgen) Klopp, it might entice Trent to want to stay. I just think the chips are stacked against Trent staying at Liverpool right now.
“There’s other positives for him to stay. He’s a home-grown talent. He owes a bit to Liverpool. His mum’s a Scouser and probably will tell him what to do. I’ve met her, she’s brilliant, I love her to bits and she’s a very strong character.
“There’s a lot of positive influence around Trent: (Academy director) Alex Inglethorpe, his mum, different players. As much as I’m fighting an argument here, there is that side of things, but I just think the allure of Spain and Madrid and Carvajal being injured and coming to the end of his career, the space is there, isn’t it?
“I think Ancelotti will go at the end of the season. I think Xabi Alonso will slot in there. Why wouldn’t he want Trent? (Aurelien) Tchouameni, (Kylian) Mbappe, (Jude) Bellingham, Rodrigo, Vinicus Jr. You know, they’re all young players who can dominate world football over the next five years.”
McAteer added: “They will be working behind the scenes with a strategy and a plan. In an ideal world they will want to keep all three. Whether they keep all three is another question. Will FSG facilitate keeping them all, I’m not sure, because of the expenditure.
“The landscape of football has changed again. Carvajal has just picked up an ACL. He’s 32. Trent Alexander-Arnold, one of his best mates is Jude Bellingham. He’s won everything at Liverpool. He’s at that age where he can go and test the water elsewhere.
“And we know there’s only one club you leave Liverpool for, as a Liverpool fan and as a Liverpool player, it’s Real Madrid. You’d be stupid to think they wouldn’t want him. I think personally Trent will go, Salah will stay, and Virgil van Dijk will sign a short-term contract. That’s what I think will happen.”
Liverpool return to action when they entertain Chelsea at Anfield on October 20.
