Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold successor has just signed his deal

Trent Alexander-Arnold looks certain to leave Liverpool this summer but at least one of his successors has signed a deal.

It's now written in the stars that Trent Alexander-Arnold will leave Liverpool this summer. The Scouser looks set for Real Madrid, who have spent at least the last year courting him.

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His contract expires at the end of June, of course, and while Liverpool are eager to renew it, Alexander-Arnold isn't. His head appears turned and at this point, it's difficult to believe he'll be turning it back to Anfield.

It's a difficult one to accept, too. Alexander-Arnold has always been vocal about wanting to play for Liverpool, repeatedly suggesting his ultimate dream is captaining the club.

That's clearly no longer the case. He's been able to speak with non-English clubs since January and the suggestions are now that he's all-but agreed a deal with Madrid.

He hasn't actually signed anything yet - that would require notifying Liverpool - but that's almost certainly a formality at this stage. The next few weeks will be farewell tour, if he gets past his injury.

Liverpool, then, can focus on finding a successor but they'll actually need two. Alexander-Arnold isn't just their right-back, after all, but their vice-captain.

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Liverpool's new vice-captain

When Jordan Henderson and James Milner left in 2023, Liverpool quickly appointed Virgil van Dijk as captain and Alexander-Arnold as vice-captain. The latter got the nod over more senior players and international captains, presumably because he was being groomed as the next club captain.

It's the same process Liverpool went on with their two previous captains, Steven Gerrard and Henderson. Only, this one won't have the same outcome.

Instead, Liverpool will need a new vice-captain and we think there's only one choice here: Mo Salah. The Egyptian signed a new two-year contract this week, taking him to a decade at Anfield.

There's no better choice than Salah to be the vice-captain. There are other brilliant options, of course - Alisson Becker, Andy Robertson, and Ibrahima Konate all have good shouts - but it's got to be the legendary no.11.

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Liverpool still need to find Alexander-Arnold's replacement at right-back (though, surely Conor Bradley at this point). His replacement as vice-captain signed his deal this week, as far as we're concerned.