Three Trent Alexander-Arnold incidents add fuel to complicated Liverpool contract saga

There remains no breakthrough in contract talks between Trent Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool.

But as we get closer to Jingle Bells time, nerves continue to ring about the future of the Reds right-back. Maybe even more than for Mo Salah or Virgil van Dijk.

So when a billboard supposedly appears in Madrid on social media with Alexander-Arnold on it, panic ensues among fans in the online world. Or when the player himself is spotted in his home city with a camera crew following him, rumors spread that it is the club filming an extensive announcement video of a new contract.

It is not the first time in recent months that the latter has happened. Alexander-Arnold is a popular man, so film crews are often in his company.

When next year's Liverpool calendar is subsequently leaked online, debate ensues over the inclusion of Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Van Dijk in the pictures for the early months of the year.

As if the club is sending messages about the future of their players through merchandise. We normally refer to the transfer window as a 'silly season', but welcome to Liverpool's contract talks.

The Madrid ad happened to be when Alexander-Arnold posed with model Iris Law for a Guess campaign he signed up for months ago. We don't even know if this is still in the Spanish city or when it was first plastered there.

The billboard posters have appeared in other cities in Europe. The sight of Alexander-Arnold's face, supposedly in Madrid, still sends shivers down the spines of concerned Reds.

But they are not Real Madrid jokes. Of course, they will have made Alexander-Arnold's people well aware of their interest in the full-back. His future after the end of June remains doubtful.

The unrest among supporters is growing as January approaches and players such as Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Van Dijk can appeal to foreign clubs.

But their representatives wouldn't be doing their job properly if they didn't already know what's on offer elsewhere if they decide not to renew with the Reds.

In reality, January only opens the door for pre-contractual agreements to be put to paper, but all three are expected to keep the dialogue open with Liverpool even if nothing is agreed before Auld Lang Syne airs on December 31.

While the loss of Salah's attacking prowess seems unthinkable given his continued impressive numbers this season and the sight of Van Dijk walking away in the summer is unfathomable to some, Alexander-Arnold's departure would sting otherwise.

Yes, the defender now has company with Curtis Jones as “the scouser in our team” as the Kop chant goes. But he's the boy who peered over the fence into Melwood to watch his heroes train – and one day became that hero to other young people in the area.

Liverpool, like bitter rivals Manchester United, are keen to have one of their own in their team. But at 26, Alexander-Arnold has a lot to think about. This could be the biggest contract he signs of his career, and the next one will likely be when he gets started or in his 30s.

The cries of “Give all three of them what they want” don't really have much substance until we know exactly what all three players are asking for to stay. Alexander-Arnold's situation may have to do with money, contract duration or status in the selection. Perhaps all three or other issues that come into play when the conversations get into the finer details.

Or maybe he's still keeping his options open. Arne Slot has Liverpool flying at the top of the Premier League and Champions League, but the new regime is still in its early stages.

Having won everything possible with his boyhood club, the lure of playing abroad might be there for a man in his mid-20s.

Neither Alexander-Arnold nor the club want the discussions to take place in public, but as long as there is silence, the speculation will keep all involved simmering. In some cases it leads to going crazy with agendas, camera crews and advertising campaigns in the capital.