Conor Bradley's Liverpool transfer admission: 'That's me done here'

Conor Bradley has had a brilliant 2024 – he made his Premier League debut in January, scored his first goal a couple of games later and then won his first trophy with Liverpool, starting in the EFL Cup triumph in February.

His career is progressing nicely, with the full-back now an important part of the first team squad and, more recently, captain of his country.

Bradley led Northern Ireland in their 5-0 Nations League win over Bulgaria and looked right at home as a captain, despite his young age.

However, things haven’t always been plain sailing for the 21-year-old, who has recently revealed that he feared for the future of his Liverpool career.

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Bradley: ‘That’s me done here’

When Bradley was told he would be going out on loan to Bolton at the start of the 2022/23 season, he thought it could have been the end of his time at Liverpool.

"They told me that they wouldn't forget about me when I was out on loan," he told the Liverpool Echo. "But at the time, you don't really believe it. You think 'a loan, that's sort of me done here'. But you have to keep working hard.

"I played around 50 games for Bolton and it was the best thing for me at that time. It turned me into what I am now, it changed me from a boy into a man. I'm so grateful for the opportunity Bolton gave me to go and play so many games there. It got me ready for coming back at Liverpool and giving it my best shot.

"Everybody knows how good Trent is," says Bradley. "He's one of a kind as a footballer. But my aim is the same as last season - whenever I get a chance to be on the pitch I'm going to do my best to help the team. It's about winning the games and giving my all.

"I know I've got some decent competition. If I'm training well, hopefully it can push Trent on and that can only be good for the team."

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Key part of Slot’s plans

Arne Slot has used Bradley from the bench on a number of occasions this season so far, often to help give first-choice right-back Trent Alexander Arnold a rest towards the end of games.

He has five substitute appearances so far, four in the Premier League and one in the Champions League.

It’s not just as a Trent replacement that he has had game time.

In Slot’s only loss as Liverpool head coach so far, against Nottingham Forest, he moved Trent into midfield and brought Bradley on as right-back while chasing the game. While it didn’t work out that time, it’s something that Slot could revisit if in desperate need for a goal in the future.

Trent has also recently appeared a left-back for England against Finland in the Nations League – while it’s hard to see Trent starting there over Andy Robertson, it’s possible he could fill in there in case of injuries, allowing Bradley more game time at right-back.

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With reports in Spain saying Real Madrid are confident of signing Trent, Bradley could become more important than ever for Slot and Liverpool over the next 12 months.