Do Liverpool have a homegrown issue ahead of next season? | OneFootball

News regarding Trent Alexander-Arnold’s imminent move to Real Madrid broke this week, in a will-he won’t-he saga that always looked likely to conclude in Spain.

Alexander-Arnold’s expected exit is a big blow to Liverpool, who now face the task of replacing a seemingly irreplaceable attacking output from full-back. The 26-year-old’s departure might also complicate matters elsewhere.

This season, Liverpool failed to name the full allocation of eight homegrown players in their squad and Alexander-Arnold’s exit, alongside rumours of other potential homegrown sales, could leave Liverpool light.

What are the Premier League’s homegrown rules?

Under the current Premier League rules, clubs are permitted to name no more than 17 overseas players in their 25-man squad. Eight spaces are permitted for homegrown players, if clubs are to utilise the maximum 25-player quota. Players under 21 are not counted towards registration rules.

The Premier League‘s handbook states: “A ‘homegrown player’ means a player who, irrespective of nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to The Football Association or the Football Association of Wales for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons, or 36 months, before his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21).”

Who are Liverpool’s current homegrown players?

This season, Liverpool registered seven homegrown players in their squad allocation. Those seven players were: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Joe Gomez, Caoimhin Kelleher, Vitezslav Jaros, Tyler Morton and Tom Hill.

Hill, who made just one first-team appearance for the club, joined Harrogate Town in January.

Alexander-Arnold looks set to leave Liverpool, while Caoimhin Kelleher is also expected to move on in search of a first-team role. Liverpool have signed Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia as an alternative goalkeeping option. Tyler Morton is another set to move on after limited first-team football.

Those exits would take Liverpool down to just three homegrown players, provided Gomez, Jones and Jaros all remain. Conor Bradley, Jarell Quansah and Harvey Elliott will all be too old to be considered u-21 next season and will join that group. However, transfer speculation continues to surround the latter duo.

Even with the addition of that trio, Liverpool would be left with two free homegrown spaces. Goalkeeper Harvey Davies is an option to be added but with Alisson, Mamardashvili and Jaros all options, the need for fourth shot-stopper is redundant.

What homegrown players could Liverpool sign?

Liverpool are expected to sign a centre-back in the summer and have been credited as admirers of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.

With uncertainty over their current options and Virgil van Dijk’s contract situation still unresolved, Guehi is on the club’s shortlist.

However, the England international will not come cheap. Palace turned down a bid of £70m from Tottenham in January, though could be forced to sell this summer with Guehi entering the final season of his deal.

Jeremie Frimpong offers another appealing option. The Dutch international came through the academy ranks at Manchester City and would be classified as homegrown. He’s excelled in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen, emerging as one of the most productive wing-backs in world football. With Alexander-Arnold nearing an exit, he could emerge as a replacement.

Liverpool are understood to admire Newcastle duo Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon, though both appear difficult to prise from St James’ Park. Elsewhere, Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton has turned the heads of top clubs for his stellar showings at Selhurst Park.

Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens and Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap could also come into the Reds’ thinking.

Read – Five potential replacements for Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool

See more – Five Premier League players who shone during the international break

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