Liverpool READY to make SURPRISE Trent-Alexander Arnold decision

While Liverpool fans still don’t know for sure, there is a sinking feeling starting to develop around the future of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who as it stands is set to leave his boyhood club on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Like Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, Trent will be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club from January 1st, and it is looking more and more likely that his future may lie in Spain with Real Madrid.

READ MORE: Mohamed Salah FINALLY set for DREAM move

Arne Slot and Sporting Director Richard Hughes will be desperate to keep Trent beyond this season, and are reportedly lining up a contract offer which would make him the highest-paid English player in the Premier League.

However, FSG and Michael Edwards are notoriously hard-nosed when it comes to financial decisions and will only offer Trent a contract they feel is worthwhile. This approach has had benefits in the past, but FSG could also be repeating a huge error they made with the Boston Red Sox and Mookie Betts in the past.

Slot and Hughes have to prepare for both eventualities. Either Trent stays and everyone’s happy, or he goes and a replacement needs to be found.

Liverpool are well-stocked at right-back, with Conor Bradley still having plenty of room to get even better than he already is, and Joe Gomez a more than capable deputy as well.

However, if Trent is to leave then Liverpool may prefer to bring another option into the squad, allowing Gomez to focus on covering for Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate in the centre of defence.

That opens the door for a surprising transfer for a player that Liverpool have scouted before.

Liverpool scouting Brazilian fullback Vanderson

According to a report from Rousing The Kop, Liverpool are taking a look at Monaco’s Brazilian defender Vanderson.

“They are 100 per cent doing their due diligence,” journalist Graham Bailey told Rousing The Kop. “[Jeremie] Frimpong is a player they like a lot, but so does most of Europe.

“I know they’ve checked on Vanderson, they are looking around and seeing what options are out there and they’ve done their work on him, they know he’s available.

“They were one of the clubs who looked at him before he arrived at Monaco, interestingly,” adds Bailey.

“They decided not to go for him then, but he’s settled in well into European football and I certainly think he would be part of the conversation if Alexander-Arnold does leave and they do have to find someone to come in and help fill the void.”

Vanderson joined Monaco from Brazilian side Gremio in 2022 for approximately €11m, and went straight into their starting lineup.

His performances in Ligue 1 have seen him rewarded with a spot in Brazil’s national team squad, with Vanderson starting in their most recent game away to Venezuela during World Cup qualification.

He’s also shown great ability with the ball at his feet, and an eye for a long-range pass that even Trent would be proud of, as seen below.

Can Vanderson challenge Conor Bradley to replace Trent Alexander-Arnnold?

Liverpool have had success in signing Brazilian right-backs from Monaco before, with Fabinho predominantly playing in that position for the French side before he made his name as a defensive midfielder under Klopp.

At 23 years old, Vanderson is still young and has room to improve. He’s the type of signing that FSG like - a younger player with plenty of upside and potential resale value.

Liverpool’s preference for signing South American players who have had European experience would make Vanderson a viable target, and could be why the club decided not to sign him after scouting him in 2022 before he joined Monaco.

It’s clear he's is not at the same level as Trent, but who is? Conor Bradley has shown he has the ability to step into Trent’s shoes when needed, so a move for another young, exciting player, while a surprise, could make sense rather than trying to sign someone at the peak of their powers.

READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: The FULL lowdown on Milos Kerkez as Liverpool open talks