Richard Hughes ALREADY making plans for Trent Alexander-Arnold departure

Liverpool face a contract catastrophe next summer with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold all seeing their terms expire in 2025.

So far no contract breakthrough has been made with any of the trio in negotiations although Anfieldwatch has reported that Van Dijk is close to announcing a renewal.

EXCLUSIVE: Why Liverpool are DELETING Rio Ngumoha footage

Salah, 32, is a pressing concern given his recent comments which suggest Liverpool’s hierarchy have yet to enter into formal negotiations over a new deal. Saudi Arabian clubs including Al-Hilal are waiting in the wings should Liverpool fail to tie up a deal between now and the end of 2024.

Alexander-Arnold, meanwhile, has been heavily linked with Real Madrid and could opt to cut ties with his boyhood club in order to facilitate a move to the European record champions. All three are eligible to sign pre-contract agreements with overseas clubs on January 1 and that is a scenario Liverpool fans will be hoping to avoid.

Liverpool list of Trent replacements

Nonetheless Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes is reported by TEAMtalk to have drawn up a list of replacements should Alexander-Arnold leave.

While replacing one of the best Premier League right-backs of all time will be no easy task, there are a number of emerging talents who could well come to Anfield and star under Arne Slot. That is unless Conor Bradley manages to nail the position down long term.

First up on the list of potential Trent successors is long-time Reds target Jeremie Frimpong. The Bayer Leverkusen wing-back is also of interest to Manchester City - the club he left as a young player in order to move to Celtic. The 23-year-old has a contract with Leverkusen until 2028.

Next up is Amar Dedic, the Red Bull Salzburg defender who has caught the eye with consistent performances this term despite a poor collective showing from Pep Lijnders’ side. Dedic, 23, is tied to Salzburg until 2027.

Will Trent stay?

Also on Liverpool’s list is Lutsharel Geertruida, the former Feyenoord right-back who is now with RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga. The 24-year-old is well known to Slot having captained his Feyenoord side in previous years. He only joined the Red Bulls last summer and is under contract until 2029.

And rounding off the list is Monaco’s Vanderson - another player who is emerging as a potential candidate for some big clubs around Europe. The 23-year-old is under contract until 2028.

While Liverpool fans will be hoping to keep Trent for the long-term, it will come as a relief that the club are doing their homework about potential successors.

READ MORE: Luis Diaz at centre of MASSIVE £245m deal