Arne Slot
Image Credits: Getty Images
Arne Slot already has a player he would prefer Liverpool to sign for the right-back position this summer.
As it stands, Liverpool will enter the market for a new right-back, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, the current No. 1 option for that position, seemingly on his way to Real Madrid.
News broke on Tuesday that the English defender is preparing to end his 17-year association with his boyhood club.
Football transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed that the deal to take the 26-year-old to Spain is now progressing.
Posting on X, he said: “Trent Alexander-Arnold and Real Madrid, closer and closer after story revealed 1 year ago. The official contract proposal from Real has been sent to TAA and his camp. Discussions underway on details of the deal; all parties involved CONFIDENT to get the agreement done.”
TalkSPORT also gave their opinion on the matter, reporting:
“The Liverpool star will leave Anfield after agreeing personal terms over a five-year deal worth in excess of in excess of £220,000-per-week with the Spanish giants in a seismic blow to Arne Slot’s side.”
“The England international has been in discussions with Real since January.”
“Real are believed to have kept Liverpool informed throughout the process.”
With Alexander-Arnold’s departure now looking all but confirmed, Liverpool will have to step up their plans to sign a potential right-back replacement.
There is no doubt that the task of replacing a player responsible for 81 assists in 298 appearances is really daunting.
Liverpool have high hopes for Conor Bradley and see the Northern Irishman as a future star. However, links to Jeremie Frimpong and Givairo Read remain, but fresh reports claim that Slot prefers working with the latter.
Slot knows Read from his time at Feyenoord, having handed the Dutch defender his first-team debut at the Eredivisie club.
According to Caught Offside, Slot “favours the idea of working with his former player Read again, which is why Liverpool management have intensified their contacts to speed up the player’s transfer.”
The 18-year-old has made 17 appearances for Feyenoord in the Eredivisie this season, creating six goals for teammates.
The report also claims that “Feyenoord are in a strong bargaining position due to the young star’s contract, which runs until 2028, and are looking for €25-30 million for the Dutch right-back.”
Intrestingly, Read has already shown he could fancy a move to Anfield from his comments in a recent interview.
When asked to pick between Manchester United and Manchester City as his favourite team in the Premier League, the 18-year-old Feyenoord right-back said:
“Liverpool, for sure! Nothing else, no one else.”
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