When Jurgen Klopp announced his summer exit from Liverpool, the rumours started. Virgil van Dijk reportedly wanted out. There was no way Mohamed Salah could stay for another season. Even new recruits, signed by Klopp, supposedly had one eye on the door. That talk all seemed preemptive and reactionary – the standard discussions that come with managerial change.
However, in recent weeks, a new rumour has appeared. Real Madrid reportedly want Trent Alexander-Arnold. Not only are they curious, they are also “actively monitoring” the situation, according to the reports. Los Blancos are supposedly ready to strike.
This is not just a question of cash. There are emotions at play here, questions of loyalty surrounding a boyhood Liverpool supporter and academy product who might be tempted by a move to Madrid. Liverpool fans will, undoubtedly, be wary of transfer sagas of old. Luis Suarez to Barcelona. Fernando Torres to Chelsea. At his peak, Steven Gerrard seemed set to depart on a yearly basis, with Los Blancos repeatedly enquiring about his availability – only to have their advances rebuffed.
And so we arrive at Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool vice-captain, and presumptive lifelong red. The likely Liverpool perspective here is all but clear: he will not be for sale. This is just agent talk. But the Madrid view makes little sense, too, as Alexander-Arnold is too expensive for even the financial might of Los Blancos to make happen.
What Alexander-Arnold will want
Assume, for a brief second, that Alexander-Arnold does want to leave Liverpool, that he is willing to uproot from his home, and discard the connections he has to the city and its fans. This becomes a complex thing. Alexander-Arnold is in a position of power here. He has shown few intentions of changing allegiances and has no real reason to sacrifice whatever negotiating power he may have.
His salary demands would be significant. Alexander-Arnold makes £180,000 ($230,000) per week at Anfield and will certainly feel he is worth more than that. There has been no talk of how much, exactly, he will command on a weekly basis if he is to sign an extension, but it’s not unreasonable for him to ask for something upwards of the £200,000 ($250,000) per week club captain Van Dijk takes in.
If he is to look at Los Blancos’ payroll, he will certainly feel he is owed around the £275,000 ($350,000) they currently shell out to Federico Valverde every week – if not more than that. Throw in a handsome signing bonus, whatever incentives might be in a contract, and this seems an expensive endeavour.
