Liverpool's right-back deal now in MAJOR doubt

Liverpool are walking on a tightrope with Trent Alexander-Arnold. The club obviously wants him to stay, but if he leaves then replacements need to be assessed.

The right-back looks incredibly likely to join Real Madrid at the end of the season, and as such, he would be declining the Reds' approaches to extend his contract in favour of a move away from Merseyside.

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While effort has to be put into persuading him to remain at the club, if it looks likely that they are fighting a lost cause, then looking at replacements is a better use of time, while trying not to upset the apple cart with Liverpool fans and the team in a Premier League title challenging season.

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Two names reportedly on the club's shortlist are Wesley Franca from Flamengo and Givairo Read at Feyenoord, although a move for the latter might have just run into trouble.

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Givairo Read made his professional debut at Feyenoord under Arne Slot last season at just 17 years old.

The Dutch right-back has gone on to be increasingly involved in the first team operations over the last two seasons, while playing for his country at the under-19 level.

Most recently, he was featured in Feyenoord's Champions League clash against AC Milan, where he successfully locked up the talented winger Rafael Leao across both legs of the tie.

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Read first become of interest to Liverpool when he clarified in an interview that his favourite club is Liverpool and that he loved working under Slot.

Since then, he has been linked with Liverpool as a potential replacement for Alexander-Arnold, and while he is still a teenager, it is clear from his career so far that he has bags of talent and the Liverpool head coach Slot might be the perfect mentor for his career moving forward.

When Anfield Watch spoke to Dutch Journalist Milan Keskin about the player, it was understood that he features as more of a wing-back than a full-back, so his defensive abilities might need some attention, although if there is anyone who knows him best, then it is Read's former coach who apparently loves him.

However, while Liverpool might look at the opportunity to sign Read if Alexander-Arnold leaves, the prospect of convincing him of a move might have just got a little bit harder and this could leave Slot devastated.

Feyenoord have recently changed their manager, bringing in Dutch legend Robin Van Persie, so until the season is over, with Read spending three months under a new coach, it is difficult to work out whether a move to Liverpool would be an attractive option for the player to consider.

If Read is overlooked by Van Persie, then a move away from Holland might be perfect for him to unleash his potential under someone who can guarantee minutes on the pitch, but if Read is considered to be an important part of the Feyenoord project, then Liverpool could have their work cut out.

Nonetheless, even if Read is on the market in the summer, Van Persie - an ex-Manchester United player - might well be reluctant to sell to a former rival in Liverpool, so there are a lot of factors to consider when the season comes to an end.

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For the time being, we will just have to sit back and watch how he progresses for the remainder of the season, but if the conditions for a move are right, then Liverpool could well jump on the opportunity to bring in a new right-back that Slot is already well aware of.

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