Why Liverpool should SELL Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid this January

Liverpool are reported to have repelled Real Madrid’s attempts to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold ahead of the January transfer window opening.

It’s been claimed that discussions never even made it to the numbers stage but Marca reported on Wednesday that Madrid are willing to offer €20 million to €25m in order to land Trent this winter.

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That is far beneath what many would consider to be Trent’s peak market value but prices drop steeply when contracts are running out. And that’s exactly what’s happening with Trent.

He’s one of the world’s best right-backs and, aged only 26, he is at the peak of his powers. The most expensive right-backs ever transferred have been Achraf Hakimi (€68m) and Joao Cancelo (€65m).

It would be no exaggeration to say Trent is better than those two have ever been and Liverpool in an ideal world would expect to be compensated better. But these aren’t ideal times.

Alexander-Arnold last signed a contract extension back in 2021; a four-year deal that takes him to the summer of 2025. Liverpool initially wanted Trent on a six-year deal but that effort was rebuffed.

Attempts in the meantime to make Trent stay have come to nothing.

Madrid desperate for Trent

It was reported last summer that sorting Trent out was the priority for Richard Hughes, the newly-installed sporting director. Liverpool would ideally keep Trent long-term but it doesn’t look like it’s going to work out like that.

So the club have only got two options.

Sell him now or lose for nothing next summer. And the lure of keeping him is strong.

Let’s not lose a key player in the middle of the season when there are titles to be won.

But it’s only Real’s desperation for a right-back that has brought them to the table this month, with Dani Carvajal injured and Lucas Vazquez struggling in his stead. Had Carvajal stayed fit then Real would likely have bided their time and Liverpool would have NO offers for Trent this window and could have carried on as normal.

Instead of seeing this as a chance to cash their chips, it looks like Liverpool and FSG have decided to hold firm and let Alexander-Arnold’s terms expire.

Liverpool can survive

Seen from another angle, Madrid’s bid at this stage could be seen as a godsend. €25m is not an inconsiderable sum at this stage of a contract but Liverpool also have the option to negotiate. If they could get that up to €30m or even €40m then a lot more fans would be tempted to cash in.

Right now it appears most supporters are united in their desire to see Alexander-Arnold finish his contract and leave for nothing.

That comes down to the fact that Liverpool are competing for the Premier League and Champions League titles. Any attempt to remove Trent from the equation could in fairness have adverse consequences in those chases.

But this isn’t Mo Salah or even Virgil van Dijk. The club would be dead right to bat any diminished offers away for that duo considering their form, pedigree and how integral they have been this season.

Liverpool should NOT be worried about title race

Trent has been excellent this season but it’s no secret that Arne Slot relies less on the full-backs for his attacking play than Jurgen Klopp.

And Liverpool have got a solution in-house in the shape of Conor Bradley once he’s back fit.

He is an elite prospect and one who could easily occupy the right-back slot for the next decade - provided his own contract is sorted out.

Furthermore, Liverpool should NOT be worried about a title race given how far ahead they are. They should be more confident than that. It would take a monumental collapse for them to lose the Premier League crown this season and we won’t really know who’s in the shakeup for the Champions League until the herd is trimmed and the interminable group phase is over.

The loss of one single player - who is neither Salah nor Van Dijk - won’t affect their overall chances. Ask yourself, if he stayed and got injured - like Bukayo Saka’s one for example - would that feel like a fatal blow in the title race, like Van Dijk back in 2020/21?

Not so.

Time for Bradley to step up

They have survived and even thrived without Alisson Becker, Ibrahima Konate and more already this season. Slot can find cover when it’s needed. Even Alexander-Arnold didn't play when the Reds demolished Real Madrid at Anfield when Bradley locked down Kylian Mbappe.

Last term they managed to win the EFL Cup Final and emerge with a draw against Manchester City in the league with Bradley in the lineup instead of Trent.

Either they believe in him or they don’t. If the do, then discussions over Trent replacements can be deferred.

Bradley is at the same stage of his career that Trent was around the time of the 2018 Champions League final. He’s going to have to make the step up either way soon.

In the cold light of day, FSG can either sell Trent now or lose him for free in summer. It feels like a no-brainer. If he really wants Madrid then let him go. But do it now and earn some money back.

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