Liverpool are £100,000 short of their Trent Alexander-Arnold contract talks as Real Madrid and Barcelona chase the England star, according to a damaging report.
Liverpool are racing to agree new deals with Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk to prevent them from holding talks with rival clubs from January 1. All three players are currently set to become free agents at the end of the season, despite their huge importance to Arne Slot and Liverpool.
Liverpool recently sent a first round of offers to Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold to try to reach an agreement with the trio. But the latter has not been impressed by the money on offer.
According to The sunLiverpool have “hit a major stumbling block” in their discussions with Alexander-Arnold over his wage demands.
The right-back will have the same salary as Salah at £350,000 a week. Liverpool, however, have offered him a £70k rise on his current £180k salary, which would take him to £250k a week.
As such, Liverpool have £100,000 a week free to strike a contract deal. Alexander-Arnold knows he is in a strong position because Real Madrid are “waiting to offer him what he wants”.
Liverpool bosses do not want to break the club’s financial structure while retaining the likes of Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Van Dijk.
However, they have to pay up because they cannot afford to lose such players for free, especially Alexander-Arnold.
The deep-lying playmaker is seen as Liverpool’s future and hopes to become captain one day should he be offered the right terms.
At 26, his profile makes him more attractive than the older pair of Salah and Van Dijk.
The report adds that Alexander-Arnold still prioritizes staying at Liverpool as it is his boyhood side. But if Liverpool fail to meet his demands, he will open talks with Madrid.
A switch to the Bernabeu would also allow Alexander-Arnold to play alongside England team-mate and good friend Jude Bellingham at club level.
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Barcelona are competing with Real Madrid for Liverpool’s best
It emerged over the weekend that Barcelona have joined the hunt for Alexander-Arnold’s services. Although they may find it difficult to convince him to reject both Liverpool and Madrid in favor of a switch to the Nou Camp.
The player recently hinted that he will stay at Anfield heaping praise on Slot.
“I could tell from the first time I met him that I would enjoy playing under him and being part of this,” Alexander-Arnold said.
“I feel like I’m going to get better and improve and learn so much in such a short time and just keep learning because I could tell he was obsessed with football and the level of detail was unbelievable.”
Asked about the contract saga, Alexander-Arnold added: “I’ve been at the club for 20 years and I’ve signed four or five contract extensions.
“None of them have been played out publicly. This one won’t be either.”
Sources told TEAMtalk last week that Alexander-Arnold is likely to pen an extension before Salah or Van Dijk as Madrid’s strong interest makes his situation more pressing.
Liverpool transfers: Salah update; Carragher backs the move
While Liverpool still have work to do to prevent Alexander-Arnold from leaving, there is good news surrounding Salah.
Spanish media claim that Salah’s situation has ‘completely changed’ as he has been ‘tempted’ to stay at Liverpool by a big contract offer.
The forward is now ready to reject Saudi clubs and stay on Merseyside for at least two more seasons.
Liverpool are also planning new additions to the squad to ensure they have more success under Slot.
Bournemouth star Milos Kerkez is Liverpool’s No.1 target to replace Andy Robertson at left-back.
Jamie Carragher has supported such a move by branding Kerkez a “superb” player and a “revelation” in the Premier League.
How Alexander-Arnold’s wages have risen
