‘Deal on’: Fabrizio Romano drops game changing Trent Alexander-Arnold news in morning gut punch | OneFootball

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s potential move to Real Madrid this summer appears to have increased in likelihood.

Fabrizio Romano shared a telling update on the Liverpool fullback’s future, jumping on to X (formerly Twitter) to claim that a deal is ‘on’ between the player and club.

An update from talkSPORT’s Alex Crook has likewise corroborated this claim with the England international having allegedly made a final decision on the matter.

Over at The Athletic, David Ornstein has reported that Madrid are ‘working to close deal’ to land the right-back as a potential free agent this summer.

The Academy graduate’s current terms remain set to expire this coming summer – along with those of Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk’s – with a compromise yet to be reached.

Los Blancos have been gunning for the No.66 for some time, understandably so given their own struggles at right-back between ageing options in Lucas Vazquez and Dani Carvajal (both 33).

Expected but no less disappointed

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

If we’re all honest with ourselves, this transfer has been coming.

Most, if not all, pundits and commentators have predicted the 26-year-old would be the most likely of the three “contract rebels” to seek out pastures new ahead of signing a new contract on Merseyside.

Still, one can’t help but feel a little aggrieved – even if Liverpool potentially have failed to supply an offer Alexander-Arnold and his entourage feel is worthy of his talents – at the nature of the exit.

Our first-choice right-back is entirely entitled to decide where to spend the rest of his playing career. However, there’s something quite disappointing about the fact our vice-captain is going to leave his childhood club empty-handed this summer when his contract expires.

He may reasonably feel he doesn’t owe Liverpool anything having helped us lift every piece of major silverware on offer under Jurgen Klopp. Not to mention, there’ll likely be another Premier League title to celebrate at the end of 2024/25.

Liverpool must replace Trent Alexander-Arnold’s creativity

Boy, oh boy, is Richard Hughes and his recruitment team going to have a hell of a time trying to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer.

Well, the far more likely outcome is that our sporting director looks to replace the defender in the aggregate given his distinct uniqueness.

To put it bluntly – there simply isn’t another fullback on the planet capable of reaching the dizzying heights of the Scouser’s creative brilliance.

FBref place Alexander-Arnold in the highest echelons of influential fullbacks, with the footballer ranking in the 97th percentile for shot-creating actions (3.71 per 90) and the 96th percentile for xAG (0.24 per 90).

* Stats courtesy of Premier League (correct as of 25/03/25)

There are factors beyond this that are a little more difficult to quantify, including Trent’s ability to drift into central spaces and make Liverpool unpredictable with his world-class passing range and ability.

All of which we’re simply not going to be able to replace in the short-term with another right-back signing.

Join our channel of readers on WhatsApp  to get the day’s top stories straight to your mobile