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Football insider Fabrizio Romano claims Premier League giants Liverpool “fully trust” Conor Bradley and see the Northern Ireland international as long-term successor to Trent Alexander-Arnold amid his Real Madrid exit talks.
Bradley arrived at Anfield from Irish League outfit Dungannon Swifts in 2019 and progressed through the ranks into a senior star, but has mainly played back-up to Alexander-Arnold – a situation which could change in the coming months.
With the England international out of contract this summer, it’s now expected Alexander-Arnold will opt to join Real Madrid on a free transfer, leaving a potential vacancy for Bradley to fill.
The 21-year-old, who has already racked up 23 senior international caps, has impressed every time he’s been called upon at Liverpool, making his first team debut in September 2021 and just over two years later earned a maiden Premier League appearance, marking the occasion by registering an assist against Bournemouth.
Liverpool's Conor Bradley could be the long-term solution if Trent Alexander-Arnold leaves this summer. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Wire)Liverpool's Conor Bradley could be the long-term solution if Trent Alexander-Arnold leaves this summer. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
Liverpool's Conor Bradley could be the long-term solution if Trent Alexander-Arnold leaves this summer. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
He scored his maiden top-flight goal in a win over Chelsea and stole the headlines earlier this season with a crunching tackle on Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe in their Champions League showdown.
Alexander-Arnold’s departure would leave a gap in the Liverpool side and rather than look for outside solutions in the transfer market, Romano reports that the Reds hierarchy view Bradley as a star of the future.
“In terms of right-back, what I’m hearing is that they are very happy with Conor Bradley,” Romano said on his ‘Here We Go’ podcast. “They believe that Conor Bradley can be part of this future Liverpool squad.
"They believe he’s a huge talent.
“The responsibility of being the starting right-back at Liverpool is going to be completely different, but they feel this boy has everything in place in order to become an important player for Arne Slot.
“I was there at Anfield for the Liverpool vs Real Madrid game. There was a tackle from Conor Bradley and the reaction from the crowd, the reaction from Anfield, I think was the perfect start of a new story.
“That moment shows how Liverpool as a club, but also as a fan base, is ready to trust this boy, is ready to trust Conor Bradley.
"Then let’s see what they do on the market, but Conor Bradley internally is considered the next big thing at right-back and they fully trust him for the future.”