Alan Shearer feels Liverpool fans shouldn’t hold any sort of grudge against Trent Alexander-Arnold if he decides to move to Real Madrid.

The Reds vice-captain’s future is dominating the headlines at the moment, with Real having already had a bid rejected in its attempts to sign Alexander-Arnold this month. The Spanish giant is reportedly considering making another approach, although Liverpool is not prepared to let the player go in the middle of a title push.

That might not prevent Alexander-Arnold from making the move to the Bernabeu for too long though, with the 26-year-old now able to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club if he wishes to do so. As things stand, he will be leaving Liverpool as a free agent in the summer, with the door open for Real to speak to him now.

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Fears are growing among Liverpool fans that they may soon have to bid farewell to Alexander-Arnold, but former Newcastle and England striker Shearer feels there shouldn’t be any ill-feeling toward him if he does leave.

“Having interest from Real Madrid, I would imagine, is a massive head-turner for any player, because of who they are and what they have achieved,” Shearer told Betfair. “Trent is an unbelievable player, so he is always going to have the biggest and best clubs in the world after his services, of which Real Madrid are right up there.

“Of course, he’s coming to the end of his contract with the lure of Madrid and a potential free transfer if he waits until the end of the season. The financial lure as well, as an individual, could be massive because there’s no transfer fee, meaning that you or your agent can command a bigger fee.

“I get it and understand it, but I also understand the frustration from Liverpool fans, with him having been brought up in the area and coming through the ranks. I would hope though, if he does go, and it’s still an if, the fans would understand it and I’m sure they would. He’s won everything at Liverpool and he is one of their own; so I would hope that there is an understanding if he does choose to go that way.

“He’s done nothing wrong in terms of his attitude as well, which has always been exemplary. He’s always been fit, always given everything for the football club so nobody can come back at him with any criticism in that regard.”

Jamie Carragher, though, feels Alexander-Arnold could tarnish his legacy if he were to leave Liverpool for nothing in the summer, having seen it happen to another former player.

“It is more than a football decision, whether it is money, trophies or your career – it is about his legacy at Liverpool and how he's seen,” Carragher told Sky Sports last month. “Does he want to be seen how Steven Gerrard is seen? Or Steve McManaman? I feel for Steve. He went to Real Madrid and won a couple of European Cups, but he is not adored by Liverpool fans.

“If I was advising Trent, a lot of it is to do with the free transfer. It is that feeling that you are leaving us for nothing, ‘where is our money to replace you?’. I would say, sign a contract, have a decent buyout clause and if Real want to buy you in 12 months…"