“Have To Make A Priority.” – Paul Gorst On Crucial Task Ahead For Richard Hughes At Liverpool

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Given the large number of players that have been away on international duty this summer, new Liverpool boss Arne Slot has only had a slimmed-down first-team squad to work with in his first weeks at the AXA Training Centre.

Thankfully for Slot, that situation has begun to change, with the likes of Andy Robertson, Dominik Szoboszlai and a freshly-cropped Mohamed Salah all reporting for duty ahead of the club’s American tour.

Salah is one of three top talents who are now into the last year of their contract, with yet-to-return club captain Virgil van Dijk and vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold also in the same boat.

There is a growing fear amongst fans that rather than signing a new deal, Trent could be persuaded to join his good friend Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid on a free transfer.

On the latest episode of our Journo Insight show, we asked the Liverpool Echo’s LFC correspondent Paul Gorst for his thoughts on Trent’s contract.

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Paul said:

“I don’t know whether supporters should be at absolute panic stations over this, or whether they should be totally relaxed. 

“Real Madrid officially isn’t able to talk to the player, but we know that these sorts of things go on in football and perhaps private conversations happen behind the scenes. 

“I’ll probably get crucified for this, but I could see why a move to Real Madrid would appeal. They’re building a squad there for the next five to ten years, aren’t they? 

“On the other side – this is a player who’s never made any secret of his desire to one day be Liverpool captain. 

“Certainly work for the powers that be at Liverpool, but they can’t countenance losing the vice-captain for nothing next summer. I think it’s going to be one that they’ve got to make a priority and really get around the table and thrash it out. 

“If there’s some conversation behind the scenes and it’s made known that they have to sell this summer, then they will be forced to, I guess. 

“At the moment I would imagine that there is no magic number for Trent Alexander-Arnold for what is a new era and a new direction of the club. 

“There would be a huge black mark against that new setup to allow Trent to slip through their grasp, so I think this is one that they really do have to make a priority and get done.” 

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Redmen Reacts

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Liverpool fans talked hopefully about the prospect of ‘Agent Trent’ convincing Jude Bellingham that his next move should be to Merseyside. Just over 18 months on, and the fear is that Jude has turned ‘agent’ himself, placing Trent firmly in the crosshairs of the Real Madrid hierarchy. Thankfully, this talk is all speculation at this point. The Spanish giants have made no public advances towards Liverpool’s vice-captain, nor has he given any indication that he would like to leave the club.  

 However, there is precedent for such a move. Local boy and club-legend-in-waiting Steve McManaman was in a similar situation nearly 25 years ago and was eventually convinced to let his contract expire. McManaman enjoyed a very successful spell with Los Merengues, winning a host of trophies and scoring a stunning volley in the 2000 Champions League Final. Hopefully when Alexander-Arnold returns from a well-earned break, contract talks can begin promptly. If he is not to become a ‘one-club man’ at LFC, the blow would be cushioned considerably by receiving a huge fee which could then be reinvested in the squad. 

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