Liverpool are running out of time to drive home the initiative in ongoing contract talks.
The Reds are currently the only club who can speak to their three big players who’s deals are expiring in the summer.
However, when January rolls around in a few short weeks, Liverpool will lose that privilege.
In reality, it’s probable that all three of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are already exploring their options with other clubs.
That’s not to say that they are actively negotiating, but each player must cover his own back in the event that he has to pack his bags and depart Anfield in June.
One who has very publicly been courted by another side is Alexander-Arnold. Trent has been heavily linked with Real Madrid and according to journalist Melissa Reddy, he has already dropped a hint that he has been listening to the Spanish giants ‘sales pitch.’
Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool FC with the ball during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Girona FC and Liverpoo...
Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images
Trent Alexander-Arnold listening to Real Madrid ‘sales pitch’
Depending on which Liverpool fan you ask, you’ll get a different answer to this question, but for many, Alexander-Arnold’s situation is the most worrying of these three.
Still only 26 and a much vaunted product of the Liverpool academy, there’s no way that the right-back should be leaving for nothing this summer.
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Nevertheless, there is now a very real possibility that that happens and speaking to Sky Sports on Wednesday, Reddy hinted that Alexander-Arnold is at the very least listening to what Madrid are telling him.
“Alexander-Arnold obviously has huge interest from Real Madrid in securing him and his comments recently about wanting to win the Ballon d’Or, that’s very much singing from the Real Madrid hymn sheet,” she says.
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“That’s their sales pitch to players, if you want to win the Ballon d’Or, this is the club you come and do it at.
“So, it’s obvious that with Trent it’s going to take a lot more elbow grease, it’s going to be a lot more expensive to get that deal over the line given his age, what he means to this club. As an academy graduate, he comes as pure profit on the books, so it’s a bit more of a complex situation there.”
Key weeks ahead in Alexander-Arnold talks
With Van Dijk and Salah, the feeling has been that Liverpool are willing to allow talks to go a little deeper into the season.
33 and 32 respectively, both players are unlikely to get such big offers from elsewhere as they will from Liverpool, especially if they want to stay in Europe.
But with Alexander-Arnold, the threat of Madrid poaching him is very real indeed.
Liverpool cannot allow this to drag on into February and March, or it could end up becoming a real distraction and affecting performances. Not just individually but collectively, too.
Whichever way Trent is leaning, he has to make it clear publicly once the New Year kicks in. Crucial weeks ahead now.
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