The size of the shoes which must be filled, once Trent Alexander-Arnold leaves Premier League champions-elect Liverpool, could almost cover the entirety of the River Mersey.
No pressure, then.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s eventual successor – whoever that may be – will not only be succeeding arguably the finest right-back in the world today, but also someone who has been a posterboy for a period of unprecedented Liverpool success in the modern era.
The Liverpool supporters certainly didn’t miss the opportunity to remind Alexander-Arnold that the grass is not always greener.
Real Madrid, the club who looked certain to snap up the England international on a free transfer, suffered a 3-0 hammering by Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals as Declan Rice channelled his inner-Steven Gerrard.
Yet, while Liverpool will not let their West Derby-born hero go without a considerable fight, there is a feeling over in Brazil that Wesley Franca has a pretty short shelf-life at Flamengo.
Flamengo know Wesley Franca is likely to leave amid Liverpool interest
According to reports, Liverpool made contact with Flamengo in March.
Arne Slot keen on reuniting with Feyenoord’s Givairo Read, allegedly anyway, while Chelsea’s Malo Gusto has been tipped for Anfield too.
Wesley Franca, however, could be the most attainable of those potential Trent replacements. Especially after Jose Boto – the director of football at Flamengo – admitted recently that the newly-capped Brazil international may have already outgrown the domestic league.
“When I arrived at Flamengo, Wesley already had some offers on the table,” says Boto, who was hired back in December 2024. “I had conversations with him and the staff and gave my opinion as a football man.
“If he continued to develop, if he went to the national team, he would last another year with other clubs wanting him.
“Really – with the way he plays now, with the needs of the European market – it will not be easy for him to stay here after the summer window.
“Obviously, we are already working to be prepared for [Wesley’s departure] if that happens. But of course, that will only happen if the clubs are willing to pay what we think Wesley is worth at the moment, which is quite high.
“There are not many right-backs in the world with the technical ability and speed that he has. We have a value in our head, the player’s staff knows it, the player knows it.”
Brazil international Wesley is ‘bullet fast’ but struggles defensively
South American expert Tim Vickery summed up Wesley Franca’s strengths and weaknesses pretty neatly back in January, when Aston Villa held exploratory talks with the jet-heeled 21-year-old.
Wesley, who made his first Brazil start in the 4-1 hammering by Argentina this month, shares Alexander-Arnold’s penchant for pushing forward with abandon.
He is, however, far from an upgrade in the defensive side of the game.
“He’s a very attacking full-back,” Vickery told talkSPORT. “Very quick. Bullet fast. But he’s not the greatest defensive full-back.”
Interestingly, Flamengo confirmed the signing of former Real Madrid, Manchester City and Juventus veteran Danilo on a free transfer back in January. While over a decade Wesley Franca’s senior, Danilo could potentially act as a short-term gap-filler until a more long-term replacement for the youngster is found.
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