Trent 'will find it hard to walk away' from Real Madrid opportunity - Ferdinand
Video credit: Eurosport
TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand is predicting that Trent Alexander-Arnold will leave Liverpool next summer.
The England international has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid when the 2024/25 season finishes.
He will be able to depart on a free transfer, as his contract is due to expire.
And Ferdinand believes the 26-year-old will struggle to turn his back on a move to the Bernabeu, should it materialise.
"This is an opportunity for someone like Trent, who's done some wonderful things," he said. "He's won lots of trophies at Liverpool.
"But these opportunities to go to Real Madrid, a club like that, don't come around often in your career.
"The way it's coming around for him, and the opportunity to go, he will never have an easier opportunity to go than now.
"I think he will find it hard to walk away from that, personally."
It could be a big summer for Liverpool, given Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are also out of contract at the end of the campaign.
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Given he is The Reds' top scorer with 15 goals this season, it would be a huge blow were he to leave Merseyside.
But Ferdinand thinks both players will still be there next season, as he continued: "If the club can get all three done, this would be a monumental moment.
"The service they have given this club over the years has been tremendous.
"They're up there with the greats in the history of the club. But I can't see them getting all three done.
"I think that Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah will stay, if I was to put a bet on."
Alexander-Arnold is a product of the Liverpool youth system. He made his debut in a League Cup tie against Spurs in October 2016, and has since racked up well over 300 appearances for the club.
Over the last eight years, he has lifted the UEFA Champions League, Premier League and FIFA Club World Cup with The Reds.
Should he leave for free, it would not be too dissimilar to when home favourite Steve McManaman turned down a new contract at Anfield in 1999 for a move to Real Madrid.
The TNT Sports pundit says he does not believe retaining Alexander-Arnold is top of Liverpool's priority list.
"It's going to be nigh on impossible to replace all three of them, but I think because of the situation of the three of them, it's important to nail down Mo and Virgil," he said.
"Trent, that will take care of itself, because in the end it will be down to him. Liverpool will offer him a very good deal, and it will be whether he wants to stay or leave.
"With Mo or Virgil, they're the same age. They still want to play high-class football. They've probably got less options, if that makes sense.
"Top class football, with all respect, doesn't mean playing in Saudi Arabia. It means playing here. And if you're playing in the team who are top of the league and the top of the Champions League, you need to stay at Liverpool."
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