Liverpool may have a decision to make when it comes to two of their players competing for one of the most important positions on the pitch. The Reds return to Premier League action on Sunday against Chelsea after the international break, where Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to start at right-back.
Alexander-Arnold has established himself as one of the best in his position in world football, but there remain question marks over where his long-term future will be. The 26-year-old’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, at which point he could leave his boyhood club on a free transfer in 2025.
Real Madrid have been extensively linked with a move for Alexander-Arnold, who grew up in West Derby. Talks remain underway between Liverpool and Alexander-Arnold’s representatives, but it remains to be seen if an agreement will be reached before the end of the season, or before January when the right-back will be able to negotiate pre-contract agreements with clubs outside England.
As the days, weeks and months go by without any contract renewal, the prospect of Liverpool losing Alexander-Arnold for free becomes more of a possibility. The ECHO ran a survey earlier this month which revealed that 57 per cent of readers would sell Alexander-Arnold in January to avoid allowing him to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Liverpool may already have a long-term replacement for Alexander-Arnold in their squad. The past two weeks have seen Conor Bradley captain Northern Ireland during the international break before returning to Merseyside.
Bradley may have the role of Alexander-Arnold’s back-up, but Arne Slot and Liverpool fans have full confidence in the 21-year-old’s abilities. However, the prospect of being a long-term replacement for one of the best right-backs in the world? Only Liverpool will know if they have that much faith in Bradley’s potential.
It was earlier this week that Bradley opened up about competing with Alexander-Arnold for the right-back spot at Liverpool. The Northern Ireland international is fully aware of the task that is ahead of him to dislodge his teammate, but it’s something that could become a reality if Real Madrid come calling in 2025.
“Everybody knows how good Trent [Alexander-Arnold] is,” Bradley says. “He’s one of a kind as a footballer. But my aim is the same as last season – whenever I get a chance to be on the pitch, I’m going to do my best to help the team. It’s about winning the games and giving my all.
“I know I’ve got some decent competition. If I’m training well, hopefully it can push Trent on and that can only be good for the team.”
Bradley has shown undeniable quality in his relatively young Liverpool career. Arne Slot is a fan of the right-back, but is Bradley the player the club will view as being capable of helping win league titles and Champions Leagues in the future?
Allowing Alexander-Arnold to depart would present several financial questions going into 2025, namely, how much money – if any – is available to sign a replacement. Bradley, then, may have the chance this season to show Liverpool why they may not have to spend tens of millions of pounds on an Alexander-Arnold replacement, if the player they need is already in the squad.
