Sell Alexander-Arnold in January or else he will leave for free - Nicol warns Liverpool

Trent-Alexander-Arnold's contract situation is at the forefront of everyone's minds.

At 26, the Scouse talent is one of a kind and if negotiations aren't successful by January 1 then clubs will be formally allowed to approach him about his future.

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The majority of fans and pundits feel it would be reckless if Liverpool failed to tie Trent down on a long-term contract.

However former Liverpool player Steve Nicol has claimed that the club should be open to the possibility of letting the right-back leave in January if the right offer came in.

Speaking to ESPN, he said: "I think they [Liverpool] would want to keep him but I guess you'd need to have some understanding as to where Trent is.

"If you think Trent is going to go and Real Madrid become desperate and give Liverpool a daft offer then they should probably take it.

"I would suggest that he's going to walk. So if they give you a good offer in January then I think you take it."

Alexander-Arnold's comments to the media have been particularly cryptic about whether he will move on or not, and even before Dani Carvajal's knee injury, the links between the defender and Real Madrid were already significant.

Trent 'can't defend to save his life'

Other clubs have been also linked to a Trent move, but it seems as though the right-back will either stay at Liverpool or make the move to Spain, with other possibilities looking highly unlikely.

However, while explaining how Liverpool should capitalise on Trent's ambition to leave, should he want to, Nicol also considered whether the move would make sense for Los Blancos.

He added: "On the face of it, Trent Alexander has defended better [this season], however, you have to take the opposition into consideration.

"Liverpool haven't been particularly tested yet this year. Over the 10 games, he's done well, but now they're coming into a stretch where they're playing Arsenal away, City on the horizon, Real Madrid in the Champions League.

"So, yes he's done better but really, in such a short space of time, a guy who for six years couldn't defend to save his life, is all of a sudden in the last four months has become some sort of defender? I'm not so sure yet."

Carvajal is widely considered to be one of the most complete full-backs in the world, and while Trent's relationship with Bellingham may tempt him to make the move, it seems Trent still has plenty to prove around his defending if he is to succeed in a future Galacticos squad.