England manager Thomas Tuchel has been told that Kyle Walker remains a better all-round player than former Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold, as the Three Lions prepare to face Finland and Senegal over the next few days.
England has been blessed with top-quality right-backs in recent times, with Walker, 35, and Alexander-Arnold also facing competition from Chelsea's Reece James. Walker's club career took an unexpected turn this year, as he was sent to AC Milan on loan for the second half of the season — after reportedly being snubbed by Real Madrid — following a disappointing start to the campaign.
Although Madrid wasn't keen on Walker, Alexander-Arnold has found a place on the Spanish team's roster. Liverpool acted quickly to replace him with Jeremie Frimpong, and the right-back's former Bayer Leverkusen teammate Florian Wirtz could also join the Reds.
Walker started just 11 games for Milan but was still named in the England squad for the World Cup qualifier against Finland as well as next week's friendly against Senegal.
Former England winger Chris Waddle suggested that Walker should get the nod. "It’s a really strange one," Waddle said of Walker's current career situation while speaking to online-casinos.com. "He’s been in and out of the team at Milan.
"It was a good move to go there, and when I watch him play he clearly has the pace to deal with the top-level stuff, but he’s still been an inconsistent starter.
Kyle Walker and Trent Alexander-Arnold
Kyle Walker and Trent Alexander-Arnold are among England's best right-backs (Image: Getty Images)
"Now, that might be because he doesn’t fit their tactics right now, or because they just played so many games, but even if it was a sensible move to make at the time, it hasn’t quite gone as he’d have hoped.
"At the same time, it’s hard to name a better English right-back. Trent Alexander-Arnold can be exceptional but he’s not outstanding as a true defender.
"He’s got his talents, there’s no denying it, with exceptional passing and dead-ball delivery, but if it’s him or Walker, we’re not blessed in that position for a young right-back who does what you expect. I think Kyle is the pick of the two right now, his all-round game puts him ahead of the rest."
Alexander-Arnold's move from Liverpool to Real Madrid was confirmed at the end of May, with the Spanish club paying the Reds an $11 million transfer fee — despite the player's Liverpool contract being due to expire just a few weeks later.
That's because Madrid wanted Alexander-Arnold to be part of Xabi Alonso's squad for the start of the Club World Cup, which gets under way in the middle of June.
Madrid could have waited until July 1 to sign Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer, and he would have been eligible to play in Los Blancos' remaining games in the tournament, but the Spanish giant was keen for the player to have a period of integration in the weeks building up to the revamped event.