Trent Alexander-Arnold's current contract with Liverpool expires in July 2025 (Image: GETTY)
Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes is under renewed pressure to agree a new contract for Trent Alexander-Arnold after the defender put the ball in the club's court with a public interview.
The right-back reached an impressive milestone by providing an assist for one of Luis Diaz's goals in the 3-0 win over Bournemouth on Saturday. It means he has been directly involved in 100 goals (19 goals, 81 assists) in 316 first-team appearances.
But some fear the Merseyside side will lose their hometown hero at the end of the campaign when his contract expires.
Asked about his future after the win over the Cherries, Alexander-Arnold said: “I've always said I want to be captain of the club. It's one of my goals but I can't decide whether it's going to happen.”
“I want to be a Liverpool player this season [as a minimum] “That's what I'll say. I've been at the club for 20 years now, I've signed four or five contract extensions and none of them have been revealed in public and this one won't be either.”
Hughes has only signed two players this summer – Giorgi Mamardashvili and Federico Chiesa – and all eyes are on him to secure new deals not only for vice-captain Alexander-Arnold but also captain Virgil van Dijk and consistent top scorer Mohamed Salah.
Although Alexander-Arnold did not confirm that he only saw himself at Liverpool, the 25-year-old added that his priority was winning trophies – and added that he was “excited about the plans” for the club's future under Arne Slot.
Alexander-Arnold is estimated to earn around £180,000-a-week at Anfield at the moment and any new deal would require a substantial pay rise, given Real Madrid are keen to sign him for free.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has contributed to 100 Liverpool goals as a right-back (Image: GETTY)
Los Blancos would be able to at least double the England international's salary and it is up to Hughes, but also Slot, to prove to the defender that his future is best served at his current club.
Slot has done his part so far. Liverpool are one point behind leaders Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table and convincingly beat AC Milan in their first Champions League group stage game.
It is now up to Hughes and the Reds management to make a tempting offer to Alexander-Arnold. Significant financial incentives but also the promise of becoming captain after Van Dijk will be the two main selling points.
Losing the vice-captain in particular would be a huge setback not only for Slot and his ambitions of winning major trophies at Liverpool, but also for the club and its fans, for whom the player is “the Scouser of our team”, as his chant goes.
Trent Alexander-Arnold's ability with the ball is almost impossible to replace (Image: GETTY)
Replacing him as a footballer on the pitch would be extremely difficult, even though Conor Bradley is a capable replacement. Replacing him as a personality would be even more difficult.
A new contract before Christmas would be a welcome gift for Liverpool fans. It should be their top priority given the threat posed by Real Madrid.
The 15-time Champions League winners are one of the few clubs in the world who can offer Alexander-Arnold almost guaranteed trophies, extra cash and the chance to play alongside his friend Jude Bellingham.
As January 1 approaches, the Scouser's representatives will become more vocal and call on him to travel to Madrid in July. Hughes must ensure that the Spanish side's pleas fall on deaf ears.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1951906/Richard-Hughes-Liverpool-Trent-Alexander-Arnold-contract