Trent Alexander-Arnold transfer news: Arne Slot says right-back ‘totally committed’ to Liverpool despite Real Madrid links | Football news
Arne Slot insists Trent Alexander-Arnold is focused on Liverpool following an approach from Real Madrid this week.
However, when the Liverpool boss was offered the chance to publicly state that the England international would not be sold in January, the Dutchman only said he would play against Manchester United on Sunday.
Slott, as the club’s first head coach rather than manager, took responsibility for contract negotiations and transfers out of his own hands and, as a result, always refused to talk about them and left them to sporting director Richard Hughes.
Privately, the club insists that the 26-year-old, whose contract expires in the summer, is not for sale, and when the holders of the Champions League inquired a few days ago, they were immediately rejected with a message that they did not intend to discuss it further.
Slot remained cautious in his press conference but confirmed he had spoken to Alexander-Arnold following Real’s approach and did not believe it would have a destabilizing effect.
“I completely understand the question and why you’re asking it, but you already know the answer: I’ve never shared those conversations, not about Trent, not about anyone else, about what I talk about with them,” he said.
“It was a conversation like many others we’ve had, me and Trent, so let’s leave it at that.
“I can tell you that he plays on Sunday and I hope he will show the same performance as he has given for the last half year, because everyone saw how great he had the first half of the season, how much he is here, how much he wants to win here.
“Every day I see him in training doing his job. He is completely dedicated to us and he will play on Sunday.
“If it would destabilize the players at Liverpool for other people to talk about them, then we would really have a problem because if you play at one of the biggest clubs in the world, everyone is always – for 12 months – talking about you, sometimes in relation to other clubs.
“It happens so many times to our players, so if it destabilizes them then we would really have a problem, not only now but in the last six months because there have been some conversations about our players in the last six months and I don’t think it’s them at all destabilized.”
‘Slot in good shape – only question marks remain above the contract!’
Sky Sports News’ Sanny Rudravajhala at Liverpool AXA Training Centre:
“A bustling press room today, full of familiar faces to say goodbye to, wish the best for the new year and, most importantly, ask how we’re going to question the boss about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future!
“Real Madrid’s approach as we all prepared to count down to midnight on New Year’s Eve was a hot topic. Arne Slott was quite blunt when I asked him what else we could see from the Liverpool full-back, but he was straight on about his future.
“What we do know is that he will play on Sunday. The Dutchman was all smiles, as you’d expect with his side six points clear, and was also open about how good Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk have been season so far.
“Makes you wonder why their and Alexander-Arnold’s futures are still undecided, but it gives us journalists something to talk about and Liverpool fans something to worry about!”
Everything Slot said about Alexander-Arnold’s future at Anfield
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot:
“Trent can still improve and I’ve already seen some improvements this season, but these players are on top of the world and they don’t have much room for improvement, although there is always room.
“In my opinion, Trent has taken a step forward defensively this season and in some games he has been outstanding in every part of the game, at times he has been a little up and down and could have done a little better.
“But that’s consistency for top players.
“I talk to every player from time to time, and that goes for Trent too, so yes, I talked to him.
“I can tell you that Trent plays on Sunday! And I hope he shows the results from the first half of the season, you saw how much he wants to be here and wants to win here.
“We all saw it against West Ham, the pass he gave Mo… I see him in training every day, doing his job. He is fully committed to us and he will play on Sunday.
“If it would destabilize the players at Liverpool for other people to talk about them, then we would really have a problem because if you play at one of the biggest clubs in the world, everyone is always – for 12 months – talking about you, sometimes in relation to other clubs.
“It happens so many times to our players, so if it destabilizes them then we would really have a problem, not only now but in the last six months because there have been some conversations about our players in the last six months and I don’t think it’s them at all destabilized.”
