Liverpool player Trent Alexander-Arnold looks set to leave the club and join Real Madrid next summer, as his contract expires.
In the last decade, Liverpool have been in the spotlight thanks to three key players: Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Salah is known as a star up front, Van Dijk as a solid captain in defense, and Alexander-Arnold as a specialist in free-kicks and set-pieces.
Uncertainty surrounds Liverpool over the futures of all three players ahead of a crucial summer for manager Arne Slot. Of them, Alexander-Arnold appears to be the first to leave. At just 26, his departure would leave a significant void in the squad.
Arne Slot has earned plaudits for his ability to improve the performances of players like Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai in his debut season. However, Slot’s real challenge will be finding a suitable replacement for Alexander-Arnold.
According to a report from Sports Illustrated, here are five candidates who could replace Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool next season.
Conor Bradley
If Liverpool decide not to bring in new players and instead opt to use talent from the academy, Conor Bradley is the main choice. The 21-year-old made his debut under Jurgen Klopp in the 2021/22 season in the Carabao Cup. After a season on loan to Bolton Wanderers, Bradley returned to Liverpool and made his Premier League debut in January 2024.
Under Arne Slot, Bradley has shown promise when fit and is seen as a long-term successor to Alexander-Arnold. With a change at right-back likely, it would be no surprise to see Liverpool pick Bradley as their first-choice starter next year and add rotation players as new recruits.
Jeremy Frimpong
Dutch player who now plays for Bayer Leverkusen, Jeremie Frimpong, is an interesting option for Liverpool. As a full-back who can also operate as a wide midfielder, Frimpong contributed greatly to Xabi Alonso’s successful debut season. He was able to immediately build chemistry with players such as Cody Gakpo, Virgil van Dijk, and Ryan Gravenberch, who is also a teammate on the Dutch national team.
Frimpong’s contract runs until 2028, making him one of the most expensive options in terms of transfer fees. He has the pace and attacking ability to immediately fill the void left by Alexander-Arnold. So far, Frimpong has scored 14 goals in 36 games in the Bundesliga and Champions League
Ola Aina
Ola Aina has been one of Nottingham Forest’s stars this season as the team battles for a Champions League spot. At 28, Aina could be a solid option to come into the starting XI over the next few seasons, while Bradley continues to develop. He has started every Premier League game for Nuno Espirito Santo, keeping 12 clean sheets in the league. Forest’s defence has also been solid, conceding just 35 goals, making them one of the best in the league.
Lutsharel Geertruida is a versatile and familiar option for Liverpool. The Dutch defender has valuable experience under Slot at Feyenoord and has been linked with Liverpool in the past. Geertruida now plays for RB Leipzig and has featured in 19 of their 27 league games. He also played in every Champions League game during the group stage, offering much-needed depth throughout the season should any players suffer injuries.
The slot would benefit from having a versatile player like Geertruida, who can provide rotation for players like Ibrahima Konate, while giving Jarell Quansah and Bradley a chance to develop.
Vanderson
Brazilian international Vanderson currently plays for AS Monaco in Ligue 1. At 23, Vanderson offers similar versatility to Frimpong and Geertruida, with most of his playing time coming from right-back. If Liverpool are serious about signing him, they may have to compete with other top European clubs. Vanderson has recently been linked with Barcelona, ​​with Hansi Flick seeing him as an ideal complement to Jules Kounde.
