Following the news that Trent Alexander-Arnold is closing in on a free move to Real Madrid, Liverpool have reportedly made contact with a defender who could replace their academy graduate.
Liverpool make first move to replace Trent
It's seemed inevitable since the rumours first emerged and Alexander-Arnold didn't instantly put pen to paper on a new Liverpool deal. Now, however, the right-back's move to Real Madrid is slowly but surely becoming a frustrating reality for all those at Anfield, who could be seeing another academy graduate choose the Spanish giants.
It's undoubtedly a major blow for the Reds, but one they must get over quickly and turn their attention towards avoiding the same fate with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk's current deals. Losing Alexander-Arnold is a blow. Losing Salah and Van Dijk on top of that would be an undeniable disaster.
With that said, the champions-elect have at least already reportedly made their first move to replace their Madrid-bound star. According to reports in Spain, Liverpool have now made contact to sign Oscar Mingueza from Celta Vigo this summer.
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The Spaniard, who spent over a decade in Barcelona's famous La Masia academy, reportedly has a release clause worth just €20m (£17m) and would quickly become a bargain for those at Anfield if he went on and replicated Alexander-Arnold's quality.
Replacing one of the Premier League's best right-backs of all time will be a near-impossible task, but if Arne Slot adapts his system in a way that no longer makes that role a creative outlet then the job of Mingueza or another option will become that much easier this summer.
"Great" Mingueza is more reliable than Trent
Whilst there's no denying that the good has always outweighed the bad in the case of Alexander-Arnold, he has proven to be a defensive liability throughout his Liverpool career. And that's an area in which Mingueza would offer instant reliability over the Anfield star, offering Slot a far safer option down his right-hand side.
League stats 24/25 (via FBref) Oscar Mingueza Alexander-Arnold
Starts 23 26
Errors leading to a shot 3 4
Aerial Duels Won 9 3
Dispossessed 9 15
That safety in possession compared to the more extravagant Alexander-Arnold could become a blessing in disguise for Liverpool, as Slot looks to create a side capable of passing sides into submission. Praised for a "great" season at Barcelona in 2021 by football scout/writer Jacek Kulig, Mingueza could now get the opportunity to take his biggest step yet back to the top of European football.
oscar-mingueza-celta-vigo
At 25 years old, the Celta Vigo star should be at the peak of his powers and ready to take Anfield by storm. Available for a reported £17m, the Spaniard is certainly one to watch when the transfer window swings open this summer.