Liverpool have some big decisions to make on the contract situations of several of their stalwarts in the coming months as they look to avoid a major upheaval of the squad next summer.
Arne Slot’s team are flying at the minute and are sitting at the summit of the Premier League table after seven games.
They have emerged as a real contender to win the Premier League alongside Manchester City and Arsenal and Slot’s handling of a disappointing summer transfer window has earned him praise.
However, the speculation about the future of their three superstars – Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk – continues to hog the headlines away from the pitch.
Liverpool are growing confident of convincing Alexander-Arnold to sign a new deal before Christmas but the lure of Real Madrid continues to worry the Reds fans.
There are already suggestions that it would not be a surprise if the player decides to move to Spain on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Shearer has been left baffled at the way Liverpool have handled the situation surrounding Alexander-Arnold.
It’d be crazy if Liverpool lost Trent Alexander-Arnold – Shearer
The former England striker insisted that it is inevitable that everyone is talking about the potential of the defender joining Real Madrid as he has yet to sign a new contract.
He stressed that it is a bit baffling that Liverpool have allowed the situation to fester and didn’t sort out the contract situation sooner to kill all the speculation.
Shearer insisted that Liverpool can’t avoid the rumours around the defender as long as the new contract remains unsigned.
“Trent Alexander-Arnold impressed for England with a great goal and playing at left-back”, Shearer told Betfair.
“It would be crazy if the local boy was to leave Liverpool though, with his future still very much uncertain. The problem is, so long as he hasn’t signed his new contract, we’ll keep talking about the links with Real Madrid or elsewhere.
“We’re all amazed Liverpool have let it run down this far in terms of how long he has left on his contract, and bearing in mind in January, you can go and speak to other clubs, it’s a risky situation.
“It’s one we’ll continue to talk about until it’s resolved, one way or the other, but it must be a priority for Liverpool to get him tied down.”
