Former Liverpool player Steve McManaman hopes that Conor Bradley could replace potentially outbound Trent Alexander-Arnold under Arne Slot next season. McManaman called Bradley a completely different player compared to Alexander-Arnold but with the potential to fill the void in defence.
Liverpool faces a huge conundrum after Alexander-Arnold decided to join rival Real Madrid as a free agent, awaiting official confirmation. The Reds are not just facing a financial loss but also losing a first-teamer and a player in his prime.
However, Slot and the club’s management will have no time to dwell on what happened and will need immediate solutions. Bradley is one of those solutions as the deputy to Alexander-Arnold and is already a favourite among the faithful fanbase.
Liverpool star Conor Bradley could become the first-choice right-back next season if he overcomes his injury problems.
Liverpool star Conor Bradley could become the first-choice right-back next season if he overcomes his injury problems.
Speaking to BBC, McManaman shared his hope for Bradley to step up for Liverpool once Alexander-Arnold leaves for Real. He said:
“[Bradley is] a completely different player to Trent Alexander-Arnold. Trent’s numbers in an attacking sense are absolutely fantastic… but Liverpool fans and everybody will hope that Conor Bradley will be able to fill that void. You have a standard level and every year, you try and improve and get better and better. We all hope that Conor Bradley achieves that and becomes the superstar that people are talking about when they talk about Trent Alexander-Arnold.”
Bradley has enjoyed a steep rise at Liverpool since last season, establishing himself as a stern competition for Alexander-Arnold. While the 21-year-old cannot match the playmaking ability of his vice-captain, he is better at defensive duties.
However, the perennial injury and fitness concerns surround Bradley which could force Liverpool to add another defensive option. Liverpool fans have supported Alexander-Arnold unconditionally despite his defensive fragility and mental regression in high-pressure situations costing the club big games.
Bradley’s attitude is opposite to Trent’s and he plays with full determination and drivenness until the very end. These are the personality traits that Liverpool could target if they opt to sign competition for Bradley.
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Furthermore, Slot prefers his players to have the tactical acumen to play in several positions and under different positional variations. Liverpool could sign a right-back who is capable of playing as a centre-back, given the lack of options in the defence department.