Liverpool’s priority is to extend Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contract amid interest from Real Madrid.
It doesn’t matter if La Liga’s interest is real or not. Liverpool do not want to risk losing the best defender in the world.
The Reds are still negotiating a bigger deal worth £250,000-a-week, or £1m-a-month. FSG did well to extend contracts, but Trent now have the upper hand.
One thing that FSG should recognize is how they are constantly linking Liverpool’s best players to lucrative new contracts.
Liverpool pay £134.4m a year to senior players, with only Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal paying more, according to Capology Fbref data.
If Trent signs a new £12m-a-year deal, he will replace Phil Foden as one of the 20 highest-paid players in the Premier League, according to Spotrac.
Trent Alexander-Arnold liverpool premier leagueAccording to Transfermartkt, Alexander-Arnold has already played 300 games and needs one more goal or assist to reach 100 goals for Liverpool.
For Trent, the two new roles mean a lot of responsibility. Trent, who currently operates as a midfielder when Jurgen Klopp’s side are in possession, has shown his form this season.
This is not his only new role since being named captain in the summer. It actually makes sense to have the second biggest player in midfield.
This will improve your ability to communicate with the entire team mid-game and help you better understand the flow of the game. Unlike previous seasons, the 25-year-old has failed to provide a decisive assist so far with just three assists.
But in key roles, he controls the flow of the game more than ever and his Sofascore heatmaps paint the picture. Here’s how his 2022/23 Premier League heatmap compares to the current season.
Liverpool’s need for a new defensive midfielder has overshadowed Trent’s fine form in Klopp’s side. Although he is not regularly involved in goal, his outstanding passing distance is Klopp’s biggest asset as he creates counter-attacks from deep.
Combined with the strong leadership of Darwin Nunes, especially in the channels, Trent can give the team a shot in all areas of the field. Last season he averaged 2.37 goals per game, which means he is expected to score 2.37 goals per game based on his base stats.
He’s been more involved in the pace of play this season, so he’s not making the same passes and his xG is much lower at 0.47. This is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s just a matter of changing how you use it.
It is true that Alexander-Arnold is one of Klopp’s most important players. Extending Andre’s contract should be a top priority for the club ahead of the possibility of signing him from Fluminense in the summer transfer window.
