Liverpool is fighting a losing battle to retain Trent Alexander-Arnold as the defender’s contract expires at the end of this season, and Real Madrid is ready to make a move for the 26-year-old.
Private talks have been ongoing between Liverpool and Alexander-Arnold’s representatives, but fans are losing faith that the defender will continue his legacy at Anfield. From January, Alexander-Arnold will be free to negotiate with foreign clubs and potentially sign a pre-contract agreement, which would close the chapter on his boyhood club.
In the modern day, it’s rare for a player to stay at one club for the entirety of their career, with Jamie Carragher the last player to start and end his playing days in a Liverpool jersey. Steven Gerrard also spent the majority of his playing career at Liverpool, before playing his final season in Major League Soccer with Los Angeles Galaxy.
Carragher and Gerrard will forever be considered legends at Liverpool and Alexander-Arnold has the opportunity to match their legacy, if not eclipse it, should he reach an agreement with the club. But with Alexander-Arnold already winning everything on offer at Liverpool, it could play a factor in his decision to move on.
Gerrard and Carragher are often mentioned in the same breath as fellow Liverpool legends Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish. Alexander-Arnold is already a Liverpool hero after winning the Premier League and Champions League, but committing the prime of his career at the club would elevate his status significantly.
Carragher never felt the urge to leave Liverpool, but Gerrard came very close to leaving the club when his career was on the rise. Gerrard almost joined Premier League rivals Chelsea in 2004, but later signed a new contract at Liverpool after having second thoughts about leaving his boyhood club.
Gerrard’s decision was justified after winning the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, but the remainder of his career was focused on winning the Premier League. Gerrard came so close to captaining Liverpool to the title in 2013-14, but a late collapse saw Manchester City crowned champions.
After retiring, Gerrard admitted that his decision to stay at Liverpool came from his desire to lift the league title at Anfield. He said bringing that trophy home would have meant more to him than winning multiple titles elsewhere, but that moment never came.
While Alexander-Arnold has already achieved the success that Gerrard craved, he may feel as though he’s already run his course in England and could be looking to chase silverware overseas. Madrid has placed Alexander-Arnold at the top of its list of targets, with the Spanish side needing a long-term replacement for right-back Dani Carvajal.
Alexander-Arnold’s situation is different to Gerrard’s, as Liverpool fans would be more forgiving if he moved abroad and not to a rival English team. His status as a Liverpool hero is secure, but if he wants to become one of the greats then he must sign a new contract.
Should Liverpool agree to an extension with Alexander-Arnold, it’s expected that he will become the highest-paid player at the club and one of the top earners in the Premier League. The defender would also receive a major contract at Madrid, giving Alexander-Arnold a few months to make the biggest decision of his life.
Carragher has offered some advice to Alexander-Arnold, after admitting that he’s losing confidence in a contract extension. As someone who spent his whole career playing for the team he adored, Carragher spoke about the benefits it had on him as a professional.
“I never played for any manager. I played for the club. That’s the way I saw it, especially as a local player, I’ve been at the club since I was nine years of age,” Carragher told Liverpool.com. “I went out every week, every day on the training pitch to give my best for Liverpool Football Club as a local player. I just wanted always what was best for the club.”