Gary Neville is convinced Trent Alexander-Arnold will leave Anfield and secure a blockbuster move to Real Madrid next year after comparing the Liverpool man’s situation to that of David Beckham 21 years ago and revealing his thoughts on the question of whether the Reds star would lose his legendary status at Anfield by walking. as a free agent.

The Reds vice-captain – considered one of the best right-backs in the world having won seven major honors at Liverpool and contributing to 102 goals in 324 appearances – is out of contract next summer and will be eligible to make a free transfer of his choice in 2025.

Indeed, despite Liverpool’s best efforts to tie him down to a new deal, Alexandre-Arnold will be eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with his next club from January – now a worrying 55 days away.

With Real Madrid making no secret of their desire to sign the 26-year-old, fears are growing at Anfield that a departure is looking increasingly likely.

And now a Sky Sports pundit Neville believes a move to the Bernabeu will indeed happen for the 33-times capped England star.

“He (Alexander-Arnold) may think that his level of appreciation would increase in Europe in certain types of football (soccer) compared to what it would be in this country,” Neville said in the latest episode of “It’s called football!”” “He is struggling to break into the England team. That tells you there’s still a question mark about him.

“Arne Slot has taken him out in some games this season, as has Jurgen Klopp. He’s part of Liverpool, he’s one of them, but David Beckham was at Manchester United with me and he loved Manchester United. His family, his mother and father, huge United fans. I loved everything about the club. But he wanted to explore. He wanted to explore the world and Europe.

“Does Trent Alexander-Arnold have it in mind? We know that he is friends with Jude Bellingham with England, we know that he is very close to him. Does he feel: ‘Actually, I could stay at Liverpool and become a club legend.’ This is something that will bring me great fulfillment. But in fact, I want to end my career having had different experiences and getting out of the bubble.

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Would Alexander-Arnold lose his legendary status by leaving Liverpool for free?

Jamie Carragher previously suggested that Michael Owen and Steve McManaman had given up their rights to be considered club legends after leaving Merseyside for Madrid as free agents, compared to Steven Gerrard, who spent a great part of his career – and gave his peak years – to Liverpool.

Wondering if the same would apply to Alexander-Arnold if he left for free, Neville commented: “I can see why Trent would want to leave. I know Jamie Carragher says that sometimes that’s why you’re not a club legend if you leave the club. That’s why Steven Gerrard is, and he gives examples of players who aren’t.

“I don’t think Trent needs to worry about that. I think what he needs to do is worry about what he wants to do in his career. David Beckham is still a Manchester United legend. He is a legend in Milan, Paris, Madrid and in different parts of the world.

“I know Liverpool are slightly different, but I don’t think he should worry about that. I think he should think about what he wants to do. My feeling is he probably has that aspiration to explore European football and see how that would treat it.

We understand that Real Madrid are in what has been described to us as “constant contact” with Alexander-Arnold’s entourage over the possibility of abandoning Anfield for the Bernabeu.

And although the player has so far failed to agree to new terms at Anfield, the Reds are continuing negotiations to try and nail down the player.

However, with time passing, it doesn’t look very promising and signs are increasingly pointing towards a move to Madrid for the England star.

Latest Liverpool transfer news: Tchouameni talks open / Salah’s huge wage demands

In the meantime, Liverpool have reportedly opened their own transfer negotiations over a deal with Real Madrid for French midfielder Aurélien Tchouameni..

The midfielder turned down a move to Anfield in 2022, but there is now an increasing chance it could be a second chance for the Reds as Real Madrid are ready to sell, have set a price realistic and with Slot’s take on the deal as well. reveal oneself.

However, any deal for the midfielder would be completed regardless of any potential move to Spain for Alexander-Arnold.

Elsewhere, Mo Salah has reportedly made his huge wage demands clear following reports the Egyptian has held preliminary negotiations with Barcelona. during a summer move.

The 32-year-old’s contract at Anfield is also due to expire next summer, but he is taking no prisoners when it comes to negotiating a new deal elsewhere, if latest reports are to be believed.

And finally, reports in Italy claim The Reds were also offered a swap deal by AC Milan for rarely seen Federico Chiesa in a deal that would see Slot sign one of Milan’s most versatile midfielders. in the context of a direct exchange.

Which clubs want Alexander-Arnold and how would he fit in?

By Samuel Banister

There’s no doubt that Alexander-Arnold is one of the most elite right-backs in the world, which would automatically make him attractive to many big clubs if he becomes available, but his position isn’t generally either. the one that clubs will seek to occupy. with several high-pedigree players.

With that in mind, it stands to reason that any club actively trying to take Alexander-Arnold could formulate a succession plan to move on from whoever currently represents him at right-back.

Here, we take a closer look at each club linked to Alexander-Arnold and who he would replace at each destination.

Real Madrid

The main club linked so far with Alexander-Arnold is Real Madrid. They have recently managed to sign an English player in the form of Bellingham and so could look to repeat the formula to strengthen the right-back role.

Currently, their main options are Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez. But this area is ripe for growth in their team. Carvajal may have come fourth in the voting for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, but that is largely due to Madrid’s achievements as a team.

He will turn 33 in January and is not expected to play again this season due to an ACL injury. Vazquez, of the same age, is at the end of his contract at the end of the season.

Los Blancos will need a reliable operator to move them forward at right-back, given that it could take time for Carvajal to return to a presentable level of fitness for a club of his ambitions.

Barcelona

Last season, Barcelona brought in Joao Cancelo on loan from Manchester City and the versatile full-back made a good impression.

However, Barca couldn’t keep him, as he was sold to the Saudi Pro League. Their reaction was to push Jules Koundé into a regular right-back role, although the Frenchman had previously indicated his preference to play as a central defender.

His deputy is currently La Masia graduate Hector Fort, since Barca have not directly signed a replacement for Cancelo. If Koundé is to be restored to a central position, Fort, 18, may not be ready to take on as much responsibility as a regular starter, so this could become a priority position to strengthen for Hansi Flick’s side .

Bayern Munich

Bayern are equipped with two right-backs born in 2000 for the current campaign, Josip Stanisic and Sacha Boey. Stanisic, however, played more often as a central defender last season when he was on loan at title-winning club Bayer Leverkusen.

Both players have had injury problems recently, which is why players like Konrad Laimer (midfielder) and Raphael Guerreiro (left-back) had to be deployed in their positions.

Joshua Kimmich has also featured there historically, but not yet under Vincent Kompany – and what’s more, he is not guaranteed to stay at the club beyond the end of the season, when his contract expires. Depending on Stanisic’s future tactical plans once he recovers from his injury, Bayern could settle for a more orthodox option that Boey could learn and rotate with.

Paris Saint-Germain

PSG currently boast one of Europe’s best right-backs in their squad in Achraf Hakimi, but that hasn’t stopped them from also being linked with Alexander-Arnold.

Hakimi has recently been tentatively linked with other clubs and it would likely take his departure for PSG to have a reasonable need for a move for Alexander-Arnold.

That said, their only other right-back at the moment is 18-year-old Yoram Zague, which highlights the importance of them having a bigger alternative.

Manchester City

Sources have suggested that Manchester City could also keep tabs on Alexander-Arnold if he becomes available, in what would arguably be the most controversial move on the table for the Liverpool academy graduate.

Kyle Walker will be 35 years old at the end of the current season and even though he has one year left on his contract, it could be time for him to phase out. City’s academy success story, Rico Lewis is making good progress, but like Alexander-Arnold, he is still quite a versatile player.

If Pep Guardiola continues to be City’s head coach, which is questionable due to his own contract situation, Alexander-Arnold – who began drifting towards midfield in a hybrid role towards the end of the stay from Jurgen Klopp to Liverpool – could fit into their fluid tactics. facility.