Trent Alexander-Arnold is widely expected to join Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer after 20-plus successful years at Liverpool.
Ex-Liverpool defender turned TV pundit Jamie Carragher.
Ex-Liverpool defender turned TV pundit Jamie Carragher.(Image: Getty Images)
Jamie Carragher has claimed that he's not as "frustrated as other people" about Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving Liverpool on a free transfer because he didn't cost anything in the first place.
Reports have suggested that Alexander-Arnold has agreed to join Real Madrid at the end of his contract in the summer. It means that the 26-year-old right-back, who has been at Liverpool since 2004 and came through the club's academy system, is expected to end his 20-plus-year association with the Reds in June.
Fury has built-up among the Liverpool supporters over Alexander-Arnold's decision to leave Liverpool - especially as he's going for nothing. The England international was subject to a £20million bid, which was rejected, from Real in January - but Liverpool stood firm and wanted to keep him until at least the summer.
READ MORE: Gary Neville sends £250m Liverpool transfer warning as Arne Slot given 'hell of a thing'READ MORE: Jamie Carragher explains what would 'disappoint' him most over Trent Alexander-Arnold Liverpool exit
But now, Alexander-Arnold is set to enter the final three months of his Liverpool deal with a move to Real all-but done. Reacting to the news, Carragher provided a "different" outlook compared to how some frustrated Reds fans have got that Alexander-Arnold is going on a free transfer.
"I'm not as frustrated with it being a free transfer," Carragher told Sky Sports. "I get it, I would love Liverpool to get the £80million so you can go and reinvest that in another right-back, or other areas of the team. But I look at it in a different way and say; 'He didn't cost anything'.
"If Liverpool sold Virgil van Dijk for £75m this summer, that would be the same as Trent leaving for free, because Virgil cost us £75m so you're breaking evens. He's not come for a huge fee and he's leaving for free.
"He didn't cost anything, so I'm not as frustrated about that as other people are - which is fine. I'm just, from a Liverpool point of view, we're in a great position to kick on and be really successful over the next three or four years which I'm sure would have been the length of contract he would have signed staying at Liverpool.
"If I was in that position, I've seen it with other players such as Steven Gerrard - who didn't have a team as good as this that he played in - or Steve McManaman or Michael Owen - I think these players left because they weren't in a position that they find themselves in right now.
"That's the disappointment from me, but players come and go. Trent will be replaced.
"You go through the history, not just Liverpool but of all the great clubs in this country, great players come and go. Great players replace them and the success normally continues."
Join our WhatsApp community, sign up to a newsletter or listen to our podcastsHERE