England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose contract with Liverpool is up until June 2025. The right-back, who is also the team’s vice-captain, is being keenly watched by Real Madrid, who are looking for a replacement for Spanish defender Daniel Carvajal.
The big Spanish club are looking to acquire him on a free transfer, but Liverpool are also keen to sign a new contract and negotiations are being conducted behind the scenes. It is said that staying at Anfield is a priority, but rumours are circulating in some media that a move to La Liga is imminent, and no one can be sure until an official announcement is made.
According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool have listed three defenders as possible replacements in case things go wrong. Netherlands defender Jeremie Frimpong, Brazilian defender Vanderson and Italy U-21 defender Michael Kayode are apparently among the targets.
Playing as a super-aggressive wing-back for Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen, he had his best season in the Bundesliga last season, when he scored 14 goals and provided 12 assists in 47 games as the club won the Bundesliga title without defeat.
He is a well-established member of the Dutch national team. In the national team, he plays mostly as a right winger and his ability as a defender is a bit questionable. He is not tall and it is unlikely that the 23-year-old right-back can cope with the intensity of the Premier League. His chances would be better in an attacking position.
One such player is 23-year-old defender Vanderson, who joined Monaco from Gremio in 2022 and made 20 appearances in Ligue 1 last season. He was frequently out injured, but is a purer side-back than Frimpong. However, he was often used as a right-sided midfielder.
Michael Kayode, a 20-year-old defender who came through the Juventus system and now plays for Fiorentina, made 26 Serie A appearances last season and has established himself in the first team. Although he has been benched this season, his potential is highly regarded in Italy.
All of them are in their early 20s with a promising future and are perfect for long-term successors. The names of other potential targets have also been reported in the media, making it difficult to grasp who is the real deal. However, extending the contract of the England defender remains the top priority.
So what sort of squad will Liverpool have for next season?