Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is out of contract at the end of the season and will be free to talk to other clubs next month if he doesn't extend his deal
Sport
Updated 20:04, 22 Dec 2024
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Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher(Image: Sky Sports)
Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp has slammed Jamie Carragher for insisting that Trent Alexander-Arnold should sign a contract extension to avoid leaving for a free. Alexander-Arnold's contract, along with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk's deals, will expire at the end of the season.
Salah is adamant he wants to stay at Anfield but mystery surrounds Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk. There is a suggestion that the full-back wants to leave at the end of the season on a free contract to join friend Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid.
Carragher has persistently warned Alexander-Arnold against that decision and continued to try and persuade the defender to stay on Sky Sports' Super Sunday. "I just think as a local player. It is a long time living in that city," he explained.
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"Trent has been at the club for 20 years, I don’t think it would be nice for Liverpool supporters, whether you agree with them or not, to feel like: ‘Hang on, we are winning everything, what more do you want?’" But Redknapp took issue to this view point, arguing: "I think it is neglegence from Liverpool, the fact they are in this position [with his contract expiring].
"If you are going to do that, you have got to respect that he has a decision to make. A young player who has given everything to the club, if he wanted to try a different culture [then why not].
"If I was in that dressing room, I would go: ‘I would love you to sign, but good luck.’ If there is a chance to got to Real Madrid, how do you turn that down?"
Carragher would go on to double down on his point insisting that Liverpool fans would not give Alexander-Arnold their blessing. He then added: "If I was advising Trent, a lot of it is to do with the free transfer.
"It is that feeling that you are leaving us for nothing, where is our money to replace you? I would say, sign a contract, have a decent buyout clause that’s not ridiculous and if Real Madrid wanted to buy you in 12 months time…"
"I think you are being really, really unfair," Redknapp interrupted. "You can’t turn round and tell him to sign a contract.
Trent Alexander-Arnold applauds the Liverpool fans after victory over Tottenham Hotspur
Trent Alexander-Arnold applauds the Liverpool fans after victory over Tottenham Hotspur
"If he gets injured after signing a contract, then what happens? He has got an opportunity for a five-year contract or whatever at Real Madrid and try something different.
"I have total respect for whatever it is he wants to do because he has given everything to Liverpool." Concluding the debate, Carragher finished by insisting that he was just relaying what Liverpool fans think.
"I am saying that Liverpool supporters… I am with them everyday on the streets of Liverpool and I know how they feel. Doesn’t matter if we agree with that," he concluded.
"I think if you have been at a football club for 20 years, since the age of six, when you look back when you are 40 or 50, you still want to be one of those legends."
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