Michael Owen has suggested the potential exit of Trent Alexander-Arnold might be less damaging than that of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk. All three can sign pre-contract agreements with overseas clubs from January given that their deals expire in June.
The club are working on renewals for each player but none have agreed new terms as yet. The ECHO understands Salah is keen to stay as talks with agent Ramy Abbas continue.
Van Dijk is meanwhile backed to ultimately pen a renewal but there is more ambiguity over Alexander-Arnold. It is being widely reported that Real Madrid have made him one of their top transfer priorities next year.
A few months ago, the player himself could only commit his future to Liverpool for the rest of the season, albeit had outlined his ambition to be club captain one day. Right now, that would mean either a change of skipper or the exit of Van Dijk, with both scenarios seemingly unlikely.
Former Liverpool striker Owen believes, out of those nearing the end of their contracts, Alexander-Arnold is possibly the player Arne Slot could cope best without due to the emergence of Conor Bradley. The Northern Irishman has impressed since his breakthrough under Jurgen Klopp.
He is currently injured, having sustained a hamstring issue against Real Madrid – a game in which he won many plaudits for keeping Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham at bay. Owen told the ECHO that, because of this, Liverpool would be left less at sea should Alexander-Arnold leave.
“There are pros and cons for them all,” said Owen when discussing the trio. “Start with Trent Alexander-Arnold – his age is the pro. Obviously, he’s an exceptional player but his age – he’s far younger than the other two, so you think there’s more longevity in him.
