Liverpool are still yet to find any real clarity over their lingering contract situations.
The Reds have very much created these issues themselves, and are now in real jeopardy of losing three of their most important players.
Encouragingly, there has seemingly been a positive ‘step forward’ in talks with Virgil van Dijk and Liverpool supporters will be desperate to hear more good news regarding their captain.
In terms of Mohamed Salah things have gone rather quiet recently, although the Egyptian showed once again on Sunday why sorting his new deal out is another hugely pressing matter.
And then there’s Trent Alexander-Arnold. Given the continued interest from Real Madrid in Trent, his case is perhaps the one causing the most concern at Anfield.
But despite claims that Alexander-Arnold has already made his mind up about leaving Liverpool, journalist Fabrizio Romano has given an update which tells a very different story.
Real Madrid working on Trent Alexander-Arnold
Alexander-Arnold finds himself in something of a rare situation at Liverpool. How often do you see such a high profile player head into the last months of his deal like this?
Given their respective ages, that Van Dijk and Salah have been allowed to do the same is less surprising. Both are obviously continuing negotiations and keeping their options open.
But Alexander-Arnold is barely 26-years-old. He has not even peaked just yet. The traditional thinking would suggest that if things have gone this far, then Trent is not staying at Liverpool.
Speaking on his YouTube channel on Tuesday evening, though, transfer expert Romano claimed that there has been no such communication from Alexander-Arnold to the Reds and also outlined what Real Madrid are doing to position themselves if that message does arrive.
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“As of today, Liverpool deny to have any communication from the player or his camp that he is not going to accept the contract,” says the journalist. “Trent Alexander-Arnold remains in contact with Liverpool and he’s talking to Liverpool.
“Then, Real Madrid are there, they will be there, they have been there for months, since March, working on Trent Alexander-Arnold as a dream target. They are monitoring the situation. Real Madrid when there is a top player like Trent potentially available as a free agent they are always very attentive. This is what they’re doing. Let’s see when and if they’ll make contact.
“What I’m hearing is that to think about a January transfer is really complicated,” adds Romano. “We had these kinds of rumours but I don’t see that at the moment, this is not something realistic.
“What we can say is that he remains top of the list for Real Madrid as right-back. But it depends what happens with Liverpool. As of today Trent didn’t tell Liverpool ‘I’m leaving’.”
Crucial months ahead for Trent Alexander-Arnold
While it is encouraging to hear that Alexander-Arnold is still keeping the door open to staying at Liverpool, you do then have to wonder what the hold up is.
The Liverpool academy graduate’s future is clearly still in the balance. There has been no decision that Madrid will be his next move, as has been suggested in Spain.
But with the ball in their court, the Reds absolutely have to make sure that they do whatever possible to keep Alexander-Arnold at the club.
There is no denying that Madrid are positioning themselves and look like Trent’s next destination if he does not sign on at Anfield.
There is still hope, that is clear. But if we get to January and no new deal has been signed, it will start to feel inevitable that Alexander-Arnold is slipping away. These next two months are absolutely critical in making sure that does not happen.
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