Liverpool Nears Defender Deal

 

It is said that Liverpool has made progress in their attempts to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold to a new long-term deal.

The Reds' vice-captain is one of three famous players whose contracts end soon at Anfield. The other two are Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.

The last two players' long-term prospects are a little less clear now that they are both in their 30s, but Alexander-Arnold was always thought to be the easiest to negotiate with.

If Alexander-Arnold's talks with Liverpool fall through, Real Madrid and Barcelona are waiting in the wings, ready to jump if the talks fail. The back could leave Liverpool for free in 2025.

Reports from Football Insider say that Liverpool has started talks with the player's camp about renewing his deal and that those talks have made progress.

Liverpool "confident" of reaching a deal by the end of the year
The report also says that everyone is sure that a deal will be made, and Liverpool hopes that Alexander-Arnold's contract will be renewed in the next few months.

According to Capology, the England star is thought to be the third-highest paid player at Liverpool, making £180,000 a week under the terms of his current deal, which he signed in 2021.

But Salah (£350,000 pw) and Van Dijk (£220,000 pw) make more than Alexander-Arnold. The 25-year-old expects a "huge" pay raise to catch up to Salah and Van Dijk.

The head coach, Arne Slot, also doesn't want to lose Alexander-Arnold on a free move next year. The Dutchman is said to think that the Liverpool native would be a great captain after Van Dijk.

The vice-captain of the Reds isn't thought to be trying to leave Liverpool, but he is very close with Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid, which has led to rumors of a possible Bernabeu move.

The penalty shootout was held on July 6, 2024, and England's Trent Alexander-Arnold won.
Reuters

Alexander-Arnold has been a Liverpool player for 20 years. He started the club's academy in 2004, scored 19 goals, and set up 81 others in 310 games for the team he grew up with.

The 25-year-old has won seven trophies at Anfield, including the Premier League and the Champions League. He also played four times for England in their run to the Euro 2022 final.

What's going on with Van Dijk and Salah now?
While Liverpool's talks with Alexander-Arnold are moving forward, there have been no major changes in the situations of Van Dijk or Salah, even though sports director Richard Hughes is aware of them.

The Reds will likely offer new contracts to the two experienced players, but Salah is still a long-term goal for the Saudi Pro League, and if he doesn't extend his contract, he could be sold before the deadline.

Salah, Van Dijk, and Alexander-Arnold will all play in Liverpool's friendly against Sevilla on Sunday. It will be Slot's first game in charge of Liverpool at Anfield.