Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is facing a major career decision and is currently considering signing a new, highly-paid contract with either his current owners, Liverpool, or La Liga giants Real Madrid, according to British newspaper The Mirror.
Arnold is currently in the final year of his contract with Liverpool, but the two sides have yet to enter into formal negotiations over a contract extension. This impasse has added uncertainty to Arnold's future and has also attracted the attention of other clubs. Real Madrid, one of the top giants in European soccer, has shown strong interest in Arnold and plans to try to recruit him as a free agent next summer.
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster has given his opinion on the matter. He believes that the contractual situation Arnold is currently in will greatly enhance his leverage when negotiating with Liverpool. Foster points out that stars such as Van Dyke and Salah in the Liverpool squad could be paid a combined salary of £600,000 per week, while Arnold, as an England international and a key member of the squad, is well qualified to demand a higher pay package.
"Arnold knows that if he signs a new four- to five-year contract, his value could soar to £100m." Foster explained, "So he has every reason to demand to be one of the highest paid players in the Premier League before considering whether to extend his contract."
In addition, Foster also mentioned the potential earnings of Arnold if he were to move to Real Madrid. He stated that if Arnold chooses to join Real Madrid on a free transfer, he could be paid between £400,000 and £500,000 per week, which is an attractive figure.
However, for Liverpool, the loss of Arnold will undoubtedly be a huge blow. As an outstanding representative of the team's youth training system, Arnold has shown excellent technical and tactical awareness on the field, and is an indispensable member of the team. Therefore, Liverpool need to start contract renewal negotiations with Arnold as soon as possible, in order to avoid facing the embarrassing situation of people and money in the next summer.
