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Mark Lawrenson claims Liverpool player has already 'agreed' transfer move
Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson has expressed his belief that Trent Alexander-Arnold has already decided to leave the club to join Real Madrid. This is definitely not what Reds fans wanted to hear as they prepare for the return of the Premier League after the latest international break.
Alexander-Arnold’s contract situation is proving to be the hottest topic in football in 2024/25. The Athletic reported Real Madrid view Trent as its transfer priority signing, before DaveOCKOP stated that Alexander-Arnold wants to remain at his boyhood club. There have also been claims made on talkSPORT that Barcelona and Bayern Munich are looking to sign the England international defender.
Only Alexander-Arnold and his inner circle will know the truth, of course. But Lawrenson believes the 26-year-old has decided a move to the Spanish capital will suit him best for the next stage in his remarkable career.
“I think he has already agreed to go, to be honest with you, because his big mate plays there, doesn’t he?,” Lawrenson said on talkSPORT (via Rousing The Kop) in reference to Alexander-Arnold’s firm friendship with Jude Bellingham.
“And I think he is one of those lads who is very well educated, and he’s kind of thinking, you know what? I have done everything at Liverpool, maybe I have got to go to Spain, learn the language. Why wouldn’t you want to play for Real Madrid? They win the Champions League every year, don’t they?”
While there’s sadly a lot of truth in that final remark, Liverpool supporters will be hoping that Trent’s love for their club will prove decisive. Martin Zubimendi declined to join the Reds as he preferred to remain with Real Sociedad, whom he has always supported. Will Alexander-Arnold decide his future along similar lines?
The lure of Madrid will be strong irrespective of the presence of Bellingham. The competition in La Liga is not as fierce as in England, likely a factor in helping to keep Real a dominant force when the Champions League reaches the business end of the competition every spring.
"I feel like I've entered the prime of my career and [it's about] extending that as far as I can,” Alexander-Arnold said recently. “I don't want to be the player remembered for only winning trophies when he was young; I want to continue to win trophies year after year until the end and was a great player in each season they played."
Kopites will say he can fulfil this level of ambition with the Reds. They will also hope Lawrenson is wrong, despite his position as a Liverpool legend.
