Liverpool fans have expected Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s departure to be set in stone for some time. But the boyhood Red announcing that this season will be his last at the club on Monday morning will still have come as a crippling blow, if not for the emotion of losing a long-serving academy graduate, then for the club not receiving a penny for one of the best right-backs on the planet.
Everything is reportedly in place for Alexander-Arnold to join Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer. The bitter pill to swallow could become even more unpalatable if Los Blancos manage to pair the 26-year-old with a Premier League star on Liverpool‘s radar.
It is not inconceivable that three English players could feature in Real’s starting line-up next season. Alexander-Arnold is set to slot straight in at full-back, with close friend Jude Bellingham already a fixture in midfield.
The pair may yet be joined by Crystal Palace maestro Adam Wharton if Bernabeu bosses get their way. According to The Daily Mail, chief Real Madrid scout Juni Calafat is a huge admirer of the 21-year-old, having kept a close eye on him this season.
Palace are expected to demand around £70million for his services, with Liverpool and Manchester City also earmarking him as a future superstar. As if losing Alexander-Arnold isn’t bad enough already, Anfield bosses watching him line up alongside a prime midfield target at Real Madrid would be particularly tough to take.
Liverpool are still getting over the disappointment of missing out on Bellingham in 2023. The 21-year-old chose the Spanish capital instead, and he has been a smash hit in a star-studded team featuring the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.
Many thought that Alexander-Arnold could use his close friendship with Bellingham to lure him to Anfield. But in the end, Bellingham has managed to lure Alexander-Arnold to the Bernabeu, leaving Liverpool boss Arne Slot with a huge vacancy to fill this summer.
Alexander-Arnold posted on X: “This decision is about experiencing a new challenge, taking myself out of my comfort zone and pushing myself both professionally and personally. I’ve given my all every single day I’ve been at this club, and I hope you feel like I’ve given back to you during my time here.
“I’ve been blessed enough to live out my dreams here and I will never, ever take for granted the special moments I’ve been fortunate enough to have lived through with you all. My love for this club will never die.”
