December 26th 2024.
It seems that Arne Slot, the manager of Liverpool, is facing the possibility of having to find a replacement for one of his key players. Danny Murphy, a former Liverpool midfielder, has suggested that the team should consider making a move for Chelsea's Malo Gusto if their current right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold, leaves at the end of the season.
Alexander-Arnold has been a crucial player for Liverpool this season, playing a major role in their successful start at Anfield. With four assists in 15 Premier League games, he has helped his team top the table on Christmas Day for the first time since the 2020/21 season. However, despite his impressive performances, there is uncertainty surrounding the 26-year-old's future at his boyhood club.
Along with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold's contract will expire in six months and he could potentially leave for free in the summer. While negotiations with Liverpool are still ongoing, he will soon be able to discuss pre-contract agreements with clubs in Europe, with Real Madrid being the favorites to secure his signature as they search for a long-term replacement for veteran full-back Dani Carvajal.
Murphy believes that Alexander-Arnold is likely to move to Spain, despite his strong connection to Liverpool. "My gut feeling is that he's going to go. I think if he were to stay, it would have been sorted by now," he told MyBettingSites.co.uk. He also pointed out that the club should have secured his contract a long time ago and should learn from this mistake.
If Alexander-Arnold does leave, Liverpool will have a big hole to fill in their defense. While academy graduate Conor Bradley has impressed when given the chance to deputize for Alexander-Arnold, Murphy questions whether the 21-year-old is ready to consistently fill his boots at this early stage of his career. Murphy believes that Liverpool would have to dip into the transfer market to find a suitable replacement, or to compete with Bradley for the position.
When it comes to potential replacements, Murphy suggests that Liverpool should consider making an audacious move for Malo Gusto from Chelsea. The French full-back has been a standout player for the Blues since joining in 2023 and has become a regular in the team as club captain Reece James struggles with injuries. While Gusto has a contract with Chelsea until 2030, Murphy admits that it would take a significant offer for Liverpool to pry him away from their rivals.
"Malo Gusto would be a very interesting option, but I don't see how Chelsea would let him go," Murphy added. "The biggest compliment you can pay to Gusto is that not many people have talked about Reece James' absence anymore. He has impressed me with his attacking abilities, his delivery, and his one-on-one defending. He would be a perfect fit for Liverpool, but it's unlikely that Chelsea would allow him to join their competitors."
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