Despite Trent Alexander-Arnold’s upcoming move to Real Madrid, Liverpool might not focus on acquiring a new right-back during the upcoming transfer window.
Alexander-Arnold is set to leave Anfield at season’s end after contributing to Liverpool’s record-equalling 20th league championship. His expected contract in Spain should offer him a substantial salary increase, though he might not reach the top echelons of Madrid’s earners.
A pressing issue for Liverpool is finding a replacement for a player who has been among the world’s elite full-backs in recent times, particularly as they haven’t received a transfer fee.
But while Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong and Feyenoord’s Lutsharel Geertruida have been linked with a move to Merseyside, Liverpool have other plans.
Reported by Sky Sports and The Athletic, the intention is to put faith in Conor Bradley as their new primary right-back moving forward.
The home-grown Northern Ireland international has generally impressed whenever he has filled in for Alexander-Arnold during injury absences over the past 18 months and is the most cost effective option because it means not dipping into the transfer market.
Liverpool don’t have another senior right-back in the squad, but either Jarell Quansah or Joe Gomez, both of whom are linked with summer exits, could be granted a new lease of life as cover in a new position, instead of being viewed as surplus to requirements at centre-back.
Despite winning the Premier League title this season, the squad is still almost exclusively the one that Jurgen Klopp left behind 12 months ago and needs re-energising if Arne Slot is to follow up this season’s success in the future. Positions other than right-back, notably up front, on the wings and left-back, the latter where Andrew Robertson is beginning to fade, are more pressing.
Liverpool refrained from ‘panic buying’ a midfielder last summer, turning down the chance to sign Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain before he joined Manchester United. Instead, the better idea was seen to utilise what they had by giving Ryan Gravenberch a season-defining new role. So developing existing squad players into starters is tried and tested for Slot and his staff.
