- 8 hours ago
Ornstein drops Trent bombshell as Liverpool face Real Madrid nightmare
The outcome of Trent Alexander-Arnold's contract talks with Liverpool is completely uncertain at this stage, according to David Ornstein.
The Reds are locked in negotiations with their biggest stars over fresh deals. Captain Virgil van Dijk, vice-captain Alexander-Arnold and star forward Mohamed Salah are all out of contract next summer.
There are clear tendencies in two of those deals. Anfield Watch revealed on Thursday that Van Dijk is on the verge of extending his stay on Merseyside. Salah, meanwhile, caused a stir over the weekend when he claimed that he was 'more out than it' as things stood.
READ MORE: Trent or Salah? Who should Liverpool renew next after Van Dijk extension?
Alexander-Arnold's situation on the other hand is completely up in the air in what will be a major worry to Liverpool supporters. According to David Ornstein and James Pearce of The Athletic, it is an 'ongoing live situation' with 'no clear picture of the outcome right now.'
Real Madrid interest confirmed
The report has confirmed Real Madrid's 'well-documented' interest in the right-back, who was on the bench but not fit enough to feature against Los Blancos on Wednesday.
Ornstein et al, however, also report that there is not only interest from Spain but also from 'other countries' that were not specified further. Alexander-Arnold, of course, can freely agree a pre-contract with foreign clubs in January.
READ MORE: Liverpool brace for 'record' Saudi offer for Salah
Earlier this week, Michael Owen, in an interview with the same outlet, warned Trent of the potential pitfalls of leaving his boyhood club, an experience he went through himself when he joined Real Madrid in 2004 and tarnished his Liverpool legacy in the process.
“Once you’ve moved and you’re not in the place everyone assumes you are never going to move on from, you almost become a tradable asset," he said. "I never grew up wanting to play for Real Madrid but it’s an honour I did. I grew up wanting to play for Liverpool.
“Once you move, you lose that absolute attachment to your club and you become a trading proposition. You lose the glue you once had, going from contract to contract because you aren’t playing for the team you support."