Trent Alexander-Arnold‘s contract scenario at Liverpool stays unresolved, and his newest feedback will be interpreted in numerous methods, so ought to followers be involved?
The shadow hanging over the Reds’ first season underneath Arne Slot is the unsure futures of three key pillars in Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.
All are free to speak to overseas golf equipment in lower than 100 days and even doubtlessly signal a pre-contract settlement if new phrases with Liverpool aren’t agreed by then.
This can be very unlikely that their futures will probably be resolved by the tip of the yr, as all three have the best to solid judgement over Slot’s potential and anticipate the phrases that finest go well with them.
The scenario is a no brainer for the membership, however Alexander-Arnold’s latest feedback on the scenario after the win over Bournemouth have been interpreted a myriad of the way – so, is there cause for concern?
The positives: Captaincy and Slot
“I wish to be a Liverpool participant this season [as a minimum] is what I’ll say,” Alexander-Arnold advised reporters over the weekend on his future – an anticipated however not precisely dedicated response.
As Liverpool followers, we now have been burned earlier than in relation to key gamers deciding their future shouldn’t be at Anfield – and Alexander-Arnold doing the identical could be soul-destroying.
The 25-year-old has been with Liverpool for the reason that age of six, rising up the ranks to finish his trophy set and maintain the title of vice-captain, these ties aren’t simply damaged.
He has spoken beforehand about his want to captain the membership, and if we’re searching for positivity inside his latest feedback, then the reiteration of this ambition is considerably promising.
“I’ve all the time stated I wish to captain the membership. That may be a objective of mine, whether or not that occurs is out of my palms,” the No. 66 stated.
“I’ve been on the membership 20 years now. I’ve signed 4 or 5 contract extensions and none of these have been performed out in public, and this one gained’t be both.”
It’s a basic case of subtly reminding supporters that he nonetheless sees a future at Anfield, all of the whereas giving the higher-ups on the membership an enormous nudge.
It’s a tactic we now have already seen from Van Dijk and Salah, although it may be stated these two gave us a stronger indication that their intention and want is to remain on the membership.
One other aspect to all of that is Slot. After enjoying his total senior profession underneath Jurgen Klopp, a brand new head coach modifications what he has all the time identified, and hypothesis on their relationship has been rife.
After being disgruntled by an early substitution at the beginning of the season, too many sought to create tales about one not liking the opposite, however Alexander-Arnold put that rapidly to mattress.
“It’s actually refreshing to have a supervisor who will assist and information and educate me the best way to be higher as a participant,” he stated of Slot.
“I’m somebody who needs to be taught, somebody who needs to be the perfect and somebody who strives to be the perfect ever.
“We sort of talked about targets and goals, and I stated to him that I wish to be the defender that nobody needs to return up towards in Europe.
“We agreed that he will probably be harsh on me. If any time an attacker will get by me and will get previous me he’ll name it out in conferences and particular person conferences and say this can not occur.
“We undergo each recreation collectively and he highlights the place he needs me to enhance.”
They’re the phrases you wish to hear from Alexander-Arnold, that he’s in search of that subsequent step and embracing the change – however whereas that could be a optimistic, his phrases on ambition go above the Dutchman.
A message to match his ambitions
Whereas I don’t see any subject with the abovementioned feedback in relation to whether or not Alexander-Arnold will prolong or not, his ambition statements had a distinct impact.
“A very powerful factor is all the time trophies if I’m sincere,” the Scouser stated on what’s going to show persuasive when he decides.
“I wish to win trophies, I’m a participant who is very motivated by trophies and profitable issues and being elite.
“So that’s in all probability the principle issue of something, you probably have a persona that’s elite, who needs to win and can do something to win then that’s what drives me.”
From an early age, Alexander-Arnold has been fiercely aggressive and he has large ambitions that Liverpool might want to present that they might help him stay out.
The membership can not afford to face nonetheless, and his love for the membership is not going to blind him as to whether success remains to be achievable at Anfield or if he has to seek out it elsewhere.
After all, elsewhere is probably going Actual Madrid, who don’t have to flex their trophy haul however can remind him that they’ve gained 11 items of silverware since 2020 alone.
These feedback greater than the others is probably not reassuring for the membership, however possibly they don’t seem to be meant to be; Alexander-Arnold is understood to get pleasure from a recreation of chess, and that’s precisely what all that is.
He’ll continuously be assessing the scenario, and should even lean on the likes of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, gamers who stayed at Anfield when success was not all the time forthcoming.
The 25-year-old, who already has 316 appearances for the membership, is entitled to have Liverpool present their hand earlier than he commits the prime years of his profession to them – and you may solely hope he’ll like what he sees.
Total confidence
There isn’t a doubt that the membership have proven excessive negligence over the contract scenario, and it’s tiresome to assume it will likely be the underlying story of the season till there’s a decision.
It is a matter that has been handed by way of one too many palms, however it’s nonsensical that it’s got up to now with Alexander-Arnold, who the Reds must be giving the keys to the dominion.
Maybe it could be naive, however the optimist in me does imagine that Liverpool and Alexander-Arnold will attain an settlement for a brand new contract, however they’ll make us sweat over it!
He needs assurances that he can develop and proceed to win trophies on the membership, and if these ambitions don’t align with the higher-ups then you could possibly not fault him for wanting to go away.
What I take away from Alexander-Arnold’s feedback is that he could be ready to go for the exit, however that the membership committing and exhibiting they will match his ambitions will probably be greater than sufficient to remain.
He’s not amplified causes to be involved, however Liverpool not taking his hints could be.
