Trent Alexander-Arnold has announced his departure from Liverpool, with the defender now set to leave Anfield at the end of this season.
The 26-year-old right-back will leave Merseyside as a modern-day legend with the Reds having come through Liverpool’s academy to win everything there is to win with the Premier League giants whilst also redefining the fullback role on a global scale.
With Real Madrid next up for Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool will need a replacement for the England international, a task that could prove impossible given how unique the right-back is and what his role requires in Arne Slot’s system.
Yet a football data expert appears to have identified the dream successor for Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool going into the summer.
Celta Vigo’s Oscar Mingueza identified as Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold replacement
Speaking to the i Paper, Analytics FC’s chief executive Alex Stewart identified Celta Vigo’s Oscar Mingueza as the perfect replacement for Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool, with the Spanish international ticking all the boxes the Reds are looking for this summer in regards to a new right-back.
Stewart said on Mingueza: “He’s an excellent fit, brings much of the quality of passing, except perhaps in transitions, and adds a bit more defensively than Trent, as well as being able to fill in at centre-back or even left-back if needed.”
A graduate of FC Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, the three-time Spanish international has established himself as one of the most consistent fullbacks in La Liga since moving to Celta Vigo in 2022 from the Catalan giants.
And with Alexander-Arnold now confirming his exit from Liverpool, the time is now for the Anfield side to make a move for Mingueza, who could be keen on joining the Reds if an offer were to be made in the summer.
Who else could replace Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool?
Liverpool are fully aware that they will need to go in a different direction if they’re to replace Alexander-Arnold in the summer, with the England international a player who simply has no real equal in the current game, given his abilities.
Yet there have been a number of players who have been linked with the Reds that could fill out the role as Alexander-Arnold’s replacement, with Jeremie Frimpong long linked with Liverpool as Anfield’s own Conor Bradley looks like the current favourite to take over the right-back spot next season.
Indeed, replacing Alexander-Arnold will not be a straightforward process for Liverpool, yet options are out there, and there is a chance that a surprise player could be signed to fill in the void left behind by the defender.
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