'He'd be worshipped at Real' - should Alexander-Arnold leave Liverpool?

What adjacent for Trent Alexander-Arnold?

It's the question that has been asked each play - and present the Liverpool right-back is officially allowed to speech to clubs from abroad, the sound volition lone get louder.

The 26-year-old is, arsenic astir shot fans volition surely cognize by now, retired of declaration this summertime and is being heavy linked with a free-transfer determination to Real Madrid erstwhile his woody expires.

The soundlessness astir his aboriginal from some clubs and the subordinate himself remains deafening, contempt countless newspaper headlines, but determination is undoubtedly a batch going connected successful the background.

Former England striker Gary Lineker, who moved to Barcelona from Everton successful 1986, told the Rest is Football podcast, external helium could recognize it if Alexander-Arnold opted to determination to the Bernabeu.

He said: "Trent would emotion it there. They volition worship him, they volition admit his unthinkable passing range."

But what is the concern astatine the moment, what bash the fans deliberation and however overmuch would Liverpool miss him?

Like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold is into the last six months of his declaration astatine Liverpool.

But portion Salah and Van Dijk person provided snippets of accusation astir declaration talks, Alexander-Arnold has been tight-lipped.

In September, helium said negotiations implicit a caller woody would not beryllium played retired successful nationalist but since past has been linked with moves elsewhere.

Sources precocious said determination had been an attack - but nary connection - from Real Madrid astir signing Alexander-Arnold successful January, which Liverpool rebuffed.

Spanish media besides reported Real were consenting to bargain the England planetary this period but are much apt to motion him connected a pre-contract statement for the summer.

Alexander-Arnold has fixed years of work to Liverpool, helping them triumph the Premier League and Champions League.

However, with the full-back successful the premier of his career, it would beryllium casual to recognize if helium wanted to prosecute a caller situation and a determination to Real Madrid would marque sense.

"He is truly adjacent with Jude Bellingham, arsenic we saw successful the summer," added Lineker.

"He is simply a fantastic footballer, helium would acceptable successful beautifully and would beryllium a monolithic success. They wouldn't absorption connected his defending – which we overly bash here.

"I did the determination myself to Spain and playing for Real oregon Barca is genuinely special. However beardown and affluent the Premier League is, the world's greats inactive spell to Barca and Real Madrid."

Former England and Newcastle striker Alan Shearer said: "He has won everything astatine Liverpool.

"Put yourself successful Trent's position, aft achieving everything astatine Liverpool past being asked to play for Real Madrid and marque an implicit fortune... You can't sound him for that astatine all.

"I anticipation determination won't beryllium immoderate hard feelings due to the fact that helium has been a large subordinate for them."

Alexander-Arnold has been astatine Liverpool since helium was six truthful immoderate determination to permission Anfield would beryllium a important 1 for some him and the Reds.

He made his breakthrough successful the 2016-17 run and has been a mainstay of the archetypal squad ever since, regularly playing much than 40 games a season.

Only Mohamed Salah (1,586) and Ryan Gravenberch (1,560) person played much minutes than Alexander-Arnold (1,317) this season, underlining however important helium is to Slot.

The Reds would not lone miss his reliability successful defence but besides his publication to their attack.

No Liverpool subordinate has created much chances than Alexander-Arnold's 36 - level with Salah. That includes 4 assists - 2nd lone to Salah, who has a stunning 13.

BBC Sport main shot writer Phil McNulty:

Alexander-Arnold is simply a world-class player, a creator and defender successful adjacent measure, truthful it would beryllium folly to suggest helium would not beryllium missed by Liverpool.

If helium wants a caller challenge, it is wide Real Madrid would invited him. It is present up to Alexander-Arnold to determine if helium wants to instrumentality that challenge.

The bully quality for Liverpool is they mightiness conscionable person the cleanable replacement for Alexander-Arnold successful their ain ranks - the outstanding Northern Ireland 21-year-old Conor Bradley has each the makings of an outstanding semipermanent Anfield star.

Ironically, it was against Real Madrid – with Alexander-Arnold watching from the seat – that Bradley delivered a magnificent show hinting astatine his prime successful Liverpool's 2-0 Champions League triumph implicit Carlo Ancelotti's broadside astatine Anfield successful November.

Bradley brought Anfield to its feet, literally, with a shuddering first-half situation connected Kylian Mbappe arsenic helium closed successful astatine The Kop end. It near Mbappe successful an undignified heap. It was fearless, perfectly legal, perfectly timed and demonstrated immense content and confidence.

If Alexander-Arnold does go, helium volition permission a immense hole, but Bradley has shown helium has each the quality to soften specified a dense blow.

Sean: Trent is simply a large lad. He volition marque his ain choice. I'd emotion him to stay. The sadness hovering implicit it each is that we fans fearfulness he'll extremity up similar Michael Owen, trading legendary presumption for a travel to Spain. I anticipation erstwhile Alexander-Arnold returns to Anfield helium gets a amended reception than Owen did (largely ignored). Madrid is simply a apical nine and fantastic city. But it ain't Liverpool!

Russ: Trent has been astatine the nine for 20 years and has won perfectly everything truthful you tin recognize if helium wants a alteration of scene. What helium needs to recognize is helium volition ne'er beryllium adored by the Madrid fans similar helium is astatine Anfield. He volition ne'er get to skipper the nine helium supposedly loves and helium volition ne'er triumph the Ballon d'Or careless of which nine helium plays for. He volition beryllium ever beryllium welcomed backmost to Anfield but not with unfastened arms - helium has tarnished his bequest similar Owen and McManaman.

Fraser: Whereas Salah and Virgil person made it wide they privation to enactment (and I'm reasonably assured some volition extend), Trent has been quiescent the full clip which makes maine fearfulness the worst. The happening that infuriates maine astir is helium is trying to permission connected a escaped and Liverpool get thing successful return. This is precise disappointing from Trent and beauteous selfish from him arsenic well, I conscionable anticipation this doesn't sabotage oregon derail our campaign. Good happening Conor Bradley is adjacent to returning.

Tommy: Out of the 3 players, helium is the 1 we tin spend to lose. He's a luxury subordinate who excessively often doesn't unrecorded up to the monolithic hype connected him. We person a ready-made replacement, truthful helium tin go. It is getting boring now. He, similar Owen, volition beryllium warming the seat astatine Madrid.

Enton: First and foremost, arsenic a lifelong Liverpool fan, losing Trent would beryllium a monolithic blow… That's a no-brainer. However, I deliberation he's made his caput up and who tin blasted him? When Real Madrid comes knocking, you reply the door! Having built his relationship with Jude Bellingham via England duty, the process of settling successful volition beryllium a batch easier arsenic well. It's up to Liverpool present to effort to get the champion woody imaginable (if it's not excessively late).