Since being handed his Liverpool debut by Jurgen Klopp again in 2016 when he was simply 18 years previous, Trent Alexander-Arnold has been an integral determine for the Reds.
He is performed over 300 occasions in whole, largely at right-back, and has wowed followers along with his spectacular attacking output, scoring 19 objectives and producing an astonishing 83 assists.
His attacking prowess from the precise flank has helped Liverpool elevate practically each main trophy attainable, together with the Champions League and the Premier League.
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“An impressive expertise and he has became a world-class soccer participant,” Klopp stated of Alexander-Arnold simply earlier than he left the membership on the finish of final season.
“He’s one individuals will speak about 20, 30, 40 years,” the German added.
Sadly for Liverpool followers, a future with out their star right-back may quickly be on the playing cards. The Englishman is within the last yr of his contract at Anfield and has been extensively tipped to go away the membership to be a part of Actual Madrid in the summertime.
Ought to that occur, listed here are 5 gamers the Reds may flip to as a substitute for his or her iconic academy graduate.
1
Denzel Dumfries
Inter
In keeping with CaughtOffside, Liverpool have already discovered a substitute for Alexander-Arnold.
It has been claimed that the Reds have an settlement in place to deliver Inter right-back Denzel Dumfries to Anfield in the summertime. Dumfries is out of contract on the finish of the season, which means he may arrive at Merseyside on a free switch.
Final season, the 28-year-old Dutchman, who joined Inter in 2021 from PSV, racked up 4 objectives and 6 assists in 36 appearances for Inter, serving to them elevate the Serie A title.
Dumfries has additionally been linked with Manchester United and Aston Villa, each of whom reportedly tried and did not land him in the summertime switch window.
2
Jeremie Frimpong
Bayer Leverkusen
One other Dutch right-back who has been on Liverpool’s radar is Jeremie Frimpong, in keeping with the Liverpool Echo.
Earlier this yr, it was stated that the Reds have been one in every of various golf equipment retaining tabs on the Bayer Leverkusen star, who was a key participant for Xabi Alonso’s facet as they lifted the Bundesliga title for the primary time of their 120-year historical past final time period.
Like Alexander-Arnold, Frimpong is an attack-minded full-back. Final season, he hit 14 objectives and produced 12 assists in all competitions.
Nevertheless, Frimpong often performs with no consideration wing-back, which may pose a problem for Liverpool supervisor Arne Slot, who sometimes performs with a conventional again 4.
3
Vanderson
Monaco
Whereas Frimpong and Dumfries will be thought of extra attacking full-backs, AS Monaco’s Vanderson is sort of the other.
Although he does nab the occasional aim or help, the Brazilian is a very excellent defender. In keeping with FBref, he ranks within the 99th percentile for tackles and the 97th for interceptions when in comparison with his positional friends in Europe’s high 5 leagues.
And in keeping with reviews in Spain, the 23-year-old, who lately made his senior debut for Brazil, is likely one of the names Liverpool are contemplating as a potential substitute for Alexander-Arnold.
Talking concerning the participant through the begin of his second season at Monaco in September 2022, former Monaco boss Philippe Clemente described him as “very formidable and an enormous perfectionist”.
“Day by day he desires to be higher than the final,” Clemente stated.
4
Pedro Porro
Tottenham Hotspur
In keeping with newer reviews elsewhere, Tottenham Hotspur’s Pedro Porro is “proper on the high” of Liverpool’s checklist of potential Alexander-Arnold replacements.
Porro, 25, has been one of many Premier League’s excellent full-backs over the previous two seasons, impressing along with his defensive stability, good wing play and eye for aim – the latter of which was greatest demonstrated by his thumping long-range strike towards Burnley, which received Spurs’ Objective of the Season award final yr.
Of Liverpool’s proposed right-back targets, Porro is arguably essentially the most much like Alexander-Arnold. Each gamers are wonderful progressive passers, boast distinctive outputs within the last third and are extraordinarily comfy in possession.
Nevertheless, what’s most attention-grabbing about Liverpool’s hyperlinks with Porro is that the Spaniard and Alexander-Arnold are each considered wished by Actual Madrid. Certainly, Porro has not been shy about his want to play for Los Blancos at some point.
So if Madrid do transfer for Alexander-Arnold, do Liverpool followers actually need to then herald a participant who they know will nonetheless be dreaming of a transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu himself? Possibly not.
5
Conor Bradley
Liverpool
In life, typically you discover that the factor you have been in search of has been proper in entrance of you all alongside. For Liverpool, that factor may very well be Conor Bradley.
Like Alexander-Arnold, Bradley got here by Liverpool’s academy and was handed his first-team debut by Klopp in January 2024. Since then, he is gone from energy to energy, filling in for the England ace on various events, together with within the Carabao Cup last win over Chelsea.
Bradley, whereas nowhere close to as attack-minded as his teammate, is a tenacious tackler and a very good header of the ball. He presents the kind of defensive solidity that Alexander-Arnold has usually been criticised for throughout his Liverpool profession.
Final season, for instance, albeit inside far fewer minutes, Bradley went the entire season with out making an error – which FBref defines as a mistake resulting in a shot. Alexander-Arnold made 5 of these, which was essentially the most of any participant in Liverpool’s squad.
Bradley’s not glamorous, however he is already proven himself to be a strong participant when known as upon, and at simply 21 years of age, there may be nonetheless loads of room for enchancment. Plus, he would not value the Reds a penny, which is all the time a bonus.
Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson thinks the Northern Eire worldwide is the person for the job. “I feel Conor Bradley has the makings of an excellent full-back if Trent have been to go away,” he lately instructed SportsCasting. “He’s proven that he’s prepared to start out extra for the primary staff and already has various good shows to level to.”