Liverpool right-back hands Arne Slot €26m HEADACHE

Liverpool are facing a contract crisis at the end of this season.

The dismal situations around Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are well-documented. As things currently stand, the Reds are set to lose three of their most important players for FREE in summer 2025.

Liverpool Transfer Latest: Arne Slot confirms Reds plans as Luis Diaz sale imminent

Those players have been entitled to speak with overseas clubs about a potential pre-contract agreement since January. And of the three it appears Alexander-Arnold might be already closest to leaving.

Real Madrid made an attempt to sign the 26-year-old for the January transfer window, negotiations which the Merseyside club declined.

But there have been reports of a blockbuster free transfer persist for the England international in summer, with the sums on offer far outstripping his Liverpool salary.

EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool’s insane contract offer to Mo Salah

If he leaves then a space in the lineup opens for an alternative right-back with many supporters united in their belief that Northern Ireland international Conor Bradley should come in to take Trent’s place.

And while the 21-year-old has been SENSATIONAL throughout his Anfield career so far, there are some cracks appearing in his injury record.

Bradley's uncertain injury record

His ankle injury last season was unfortunate but this term he has been affected in particular by muscle injuries. Against Real Madrid in the Champions League he put in a tour-de-force performance before going off early with a hamstring strain.

READ MORE: How to get Carabao Cup final tickets

He missed around nine matches for the Reds and came back into contention at the start of January. However, disaster struck again on Wednesday night during a regrettable 2-2 draw against Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Having come on as a substitute in the second half, Bradley AGAIN took his leave early with Arne Slot later confirming that the 17-cap international could be out for two weeks or more. That doesn’t bode well for the Reds with Manchester City on the horizon as well as Newcastle.

"All the time with injuries, I always say if a player wants to go out himself, that's not a promising sign,” the Liverpool coach said.

"It will probably lead to the fact he is probably 99.9 per cent not available for City and I don't expect him against Newcastle as well. "Then we have to see if it’s one or two weeks or if it's going to be even longer."

Arne Slot's €26m problem

Bradley, a homegrown talent, would be a welcome sight in the first team on a regular basis but his availability record is now under scrutiny. If Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes believe he is incapable of staying fit for the entire season then they will be forced to to the transfer market for alternatives.

Jeremie Frimpong is again named among the potential candidates with a €40 million price tag discussed. That kind of money would blow a hole in the summer transfer budget. And with Bradley’s estimated transfer value being €26m, they will again be forced to play without a valuable asset.

EXCLUSIVE: The Arne Slot protege READY to join Liverpool

Slot likes Bradley, that is clear by how much he’s trusted him, but he is going to have to prove his mettle before he can be considered the long-term reinforcement at right-back. Otherwise this is going to be a very expensive problem for Liverpool to solve.

Liverpool FC news recap: Arne Slot EXPOSED as Liverpool STEAL £22 million