Liverpool academy product Trent Alexander-Arnold has entered the final yr of his contract at Anfield, and former Reds midfielder Graeme Souness thinks he noticed a touch within the saga.
The once-moustachioed Scot turned out 358 occasions for the Merseyside membership, earlier than presiding over a much less profitable stint as supervisor. However, he is aware of how issues work in that a part of city.
Alexander-Arnold has turn into a part of the furnishings at Liverpool, breaking out of the youth setup as a young person and by no means wanting again. Reds lovingly discuss with him as ‘the Scouser in our group’ of their chants, however that chapter may quickly be closing together with his 2021 renewal expiring subsequent summer season.
VIDEO How Liverpool Simply Destroyed Man United
Souness believes he noticed the path of journey in a call made by new boss Arne Slot in his facet’s resounding 3-0 win over Manchester United at Previous Trafford.
Three objectives to the nice with 76 minutes on the clock on the Theatre of Goals, the Dutch coach determined to withdraw the right-back, together with Diogo Jota, and introduce Conor Bradley and Darwin Nunez of their place.
“I don’t see any apparent motive to take Trent off in opposition to Manchester United, aside from they know he’s leaving,” Souness mentioned, talking on William Hill’s podcast, Three Up Entrance.
One of the best options, enjoyable and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox each week.
“They’d nonetheless wish to hold him on facet for the remainder of the season and he’ll go without spending a dime on the finish of it. The message that he’s made up his thoughts could have already got been relayed to the higher-ups on the membership.”
At this juncture, Slot would possibly interject and counsel with lower than quarter-hour of normal time left to go – and the sport all however received – he was lowering the chance on one among his key starters, for whom he has no apparent substitute, simply as he did lower than 10 minutes afterward the opposite flank with Andy Robertson. Nevertheless it’s clear Souness doesn’t purchase that model of occasions, and means that Alexander-Arnold already has his subsequent vacation spot in thoughts.
“He’s working his contract down,” the previous supervisor mentioned. “When you’re going to depart Liverpool, the place else aside from Actual Madrid can you actually go to higher your self?”
The purpose Souness makes shouldn’t be with out benefit, and Liverpool followers received’t have been soothed by the period of time the right-back spent with Los Blancos and fellow England star Jude Bellingham over the summer season.
Agent Jude little doubt waxed lyrical about his time in Madrid because the pair headed out to Los Angeles collectively following the top of Euro 2024, and it received’t have escaped consideration that Trent’s Madrid counterpart Dani Carvajal is about to see his deal on the Bernabeu expire subsequent summer season.
Contract complications don’t finish there for the Merseyside membership, as Mohamed Salah dropped a lot much less delicate hints that it could possibly be his final yr following the sport in opposition to Erik ten Hag’s facet, and Virgil van Dijk can also be within the last yr of his phrases. There’s work to be completed at Anfield, then, however Souness fears the ship could have already got set sail in Alexander-Arnold’s case.
Extra Liverpool tales
‘I am not Harry Potter’ – Erik ten Hag hits out following Manchester United’s defeat to Liverpool
Jamie Carragher urges Liverpool to make key change at membership
‘Some individuals weren’t pleased after I left for Liverpool, I wish to restore these wounds’: Former England worldwide opens as much as FFT