Alexander-Arnold's future is uncertain at Liverpool (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
After a relatively quiet international break, the Trent Alexander-Arnold transfer saga kicked into gear again this week. Debate has raged among Liverpool supporters and the wider football world since.
The full-back's contract is set to expire at the end of the season and Real Madrid are poised to take advantage. It means Alexander-Arnold could finally leave the Reds after coming through the academy and winning every club honour available.
If he does, there will be plenty of emotional and footballing factors to consider. Our fan jury have had their say on the developments below.
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James Noble
Disappointment, acceptance, anger, understanding. They’re just some of the emotions displayed in recent days in response to Trent Alexander-Arnold reportedly moving closer to a free transfer to Real Madrid. They all feel understandable.
The direction of travel appears clear. However, it’s important not to deem something done that, seemingly, isn’t. It looks all but sealed, but nothing official, at time of writing, has materialised. These processes can change course.
Alexander-Arnold leaving, particularly on a free, would be unpalatable. He’s contributed, and achieved, so much at his boyhood club – and, arguably, could better himself at Liverpool to a greater extent than anywhere else. Los Blancos’ lure is considerable, though, and he would leave with the Reds in relatively rude health.
Questions around Liverpool's and FSG’s handling of the three prominent contract situations are certainly also justified, especially given Alexander-Arnold’s age. While irreplaceable in many senses, if he does depart, right-back reinforcement would be sensible, whether the excellent Conor Bradley represents first or second choice.
Allowing toxicity to fester in relation to this situation is not in our interests. While currently injured, Alexander-Arnold could still have a big part to play this season.
Wednesday’s Merseyside derby is swiftly approaching and we have a Premier League title to win. However individual futures develop, that’s a goal we can all positively channel emotion towards.
Rhys Buchanan
Just last year Trent Alexander-Arnold echoed the sentiments of Steven Gerrard when he claimed that trophies mean more to us as Liverpool fans than to the likes of certain near rivals.
For the boyhood Red who has regularly made clear his intentions of one day pulling on the captain’s armband, it’s now increasingly clear that somewhere along the way his mindset shifted as he started talking about ambitions of the Ballon D'Or and developing on the world stage. Ultimately, it’s bitterly disappointing that he feels Liverpool aren't good enough in terms of meeting his own goals.
People will point to the fact that Trent has won everything there is to win with The Reds and deserves a new challenge, but that sentiment discards how much the club and the fans have given to him through the years in achieving those dreams.
I'm just as let down by the timing and the way the whole affair has played out as Madrid continue to dictate the narrative on their own terms. More importantly though, we’ve got a league title to win and I just hope this ongoing situation doesn’t impact our squad on the pitch.
Andrew Cullen
Again, we find ourself in the position of the gut-wrenching blow of losing a top talent from our ranks. It is hard to take. The Liverpool heart will be heavy as it sees a generational talent walk out the door.
The hour of this news is not great, especially given the towering efforts of the team this year. Doubts and clouds will now engulf the club. Will our creativity plummet? Will this move have a domino effect for our other big stars?
Who do we point the finger at? Is this an instance of mismanagement by the club’s hierarchy? Or, is this a case of Trent and his team managing a strategic exit?
We will recover if Trent eventually departs. Whilst he was exciting going forward, he was sometimes terrifying at the back. When Trent walks out again in a Liverpool shirt, he will not be greeted with raucous applause, but nor will he be met with raucous boos.
In most fans’ minds, it is less about the move, and more about the manner of it. We have been stung before. We have been stung again. We have lost a top player without a transfer fee. The blame game is probably not helpful though.
Trent has unquestionably been an incredible asset to Liverpool, but his Liverpool legacy has been unquestionably tarnished with this move. We know the gravitational pull towards the Madrid Galacticos is hard to resist. Most Liverpool fans could not comprehend the idea of moving clubs if they were given the famous Liverpool shirt to put on, but the players are not the fans and the fans are not the players.