Liverpool rocked by bombshell transfer news hours ahead of West Ham victory
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West Ham welcomed Liverpool to the London Stadium on Sunday evening but the Premier League action was overshadowed by transfer talk.
Liverpool were rocked by transfer bombshell news that Trent Alexander-Arnold may plan on quitting Anfield come the end of the season on Sunday with the news breaking just hours ahead of kick-off against West Ham.
The transfer talk didn’t distract the Reds on the pitch as they romped home to a 5-0 win over a whimpering West Ham outfit. Alexander-Arnold was among the goals and appeared to reference the rumours with a celebration gesturing at chatter surrounding his name.
The England international is out of contract at the end of the season and there has been no talk of a fresh deal. Spanish outlet Marca now reports the head-turning news that the player has supposedly informed the club that wants to play for La Liga giants Real Madrid next season.
The outlet adds that a contract renewal at Liverpool is 'impossible' with a switch to the Bernabeu his intention for 2025. A move at the end of his contract next summer would see the Premier League and Champions League winner leave his boyhood club as a free agent.
Alexander-Arnold played the full 90 minutes for Liverpool as they travelled to West Ham on Sunday. The 26-year-old has only not started one league fixture this season, against Southampton due to a hamstring injury, and is an ever-present in Slot's system.
Reacting to the player’s goal celebration against West Ham, Slot said: “No, I don’t think it’s negative at all. He’s playing really well, scored a great goal and the way he celebrated his goal probably tells you enough, so I don’t think I have to say much more about it. I’m really happy with Trent, just as happy as I am with Mo and With Virgil, so for me there’s no difference.
“For the outside world, maybe there’s a bit more things happening around Trent in the media than with the other two, but yeah, I’m happy with all three of them at the moment.”
Jamie Carragher responds to Real Madrid links
All eyes and talk will no doubt be on Alexander-Arnold as the two sides go head-to-head in their final fixture of the calendar year. Reacting to links with Real Madrid earlier this month, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher questioned why the full-back would make that move.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher said: “I think it’s more than a football decision in terms of whether it’s money or trophies or your career. I think it’s almost about his legacy at Liverpool and how he’s seen in the future.
“Does he want to be seen the way Steven Gerrard’s seen, or maybe Steve McManaman? Two great players for Liverpool, and I actually feel a little bit for Steve McManaman, he was one of the best attacking midfield players in the Premier League in the mid-90s for Liverpool. He went to Real Madrid and won a couple of European Cups, but he’s not absolutely adored by Liverpool supporters now, and I feel a little bit sad for that because he probably deserves to be.
“As a local player, it’s a long time living back in the city, how you feel about your club. Trent’s been at Liverpool since he was six years of age. He’s been at the club 20 years. I don’t think it’d be nice for Liverpool supporters, whether you agree with it or not, to almost have a feeling of, ‘Oh, hang on, we’re winning everything, we’re going for the league, the Champions League, leaving on a free, what more do you want, everything’s here for you?'”