Richard Hughes Has Huge Problem to Solve for Liverpool Ahead of New Season – Opinion
Liverpool are facing significant challenges as they prepare for the upcoming Premier League season.
Richard Hughes, the Liverpool transfer chief, is confronted with a major issue as star player Trent Alexander-Arnold will return to the club following Euro 2024 with less than a year remaining on his contract. Alexander-Arnold, a product of the Reds academy, has been linked with a potential move to Real Madrid this summer.
This season will be Liverpool’s first under the management of Arne Slot, who took over from Jurgen Klopp earlier this summer.
The club is eager to secure the futures of their top talents to provide Slot with the best opportunity for success.
Alexander-Arnold has made 310 first-team appearances for Liverpool, scoring 19 goals and providing 81 assists. He is considered one of the most technically gifted players in Europe.
In June 2021, he signed a new four-year contract after contributing to Liverpool’s Champions League and Club World Cup victories in 2019 and their Premier League title win in 2020. Since then, he has also added an FA Cup and two Carabao Cup titles to his achievements.
At 25, the star player likely has his best years ahead of him and will be crucial for Liverpool under Slot. Hughes needs to act fast to secure a long-term deal, ensuring Real Madrid doesn’t sway him in the coming months.
Alexander-Arnold is currently on a break following his participation in Euro 2024 with England.
Excelling both as a right-back and in midfield for his club, he started England’s first two group stage matches in midfield and scored the winning penalty in the last-16 shootout against Switzerland after coming on as a late substitute.
Despite this, he only played 11 minutes in England’s final five matches, having been overlooked by Gareth Southgate in the crucial games.
Reports suggest Real Madrid are determined to sign Alexander-Arnold, with Jude Bellingham, his England teammate, reportedly being used to persuade him to move to Spain.
It appears Alexander-Arnold might give Slot and Liverpool a year to convince him to stay at Anfield. Hughes will be doing everything possible to keep him.
The England international is set to return to the northwest soon, as Liverpool kick off their Premier League season with a match against Ipswich in mid-August.
In other Liverpool news, Liverpool Readying £55m Bid for Former Real Madrid Player Compared to Lionel Messi
