Trent Alexander-Arnold will not be seen by fans in as eternal a light as his fellow Liverpool stars when it comes to their expiring contracts, Jamie Carragher claims.
Local star Alexander-Arnold, Reds talisman Mohamed Salah and club captain Virgil van Dijk all currently see their current contracts set to expire in the summer of 2025, with negotiations still to progress.
But where Salah – who recently admitted in a telling statement that he was 'more out than in' – and Van Dijk were brought to Merseyside, lie the roots of versatile defender Alexander-Arnold, born in West Derby.
Rumors suggesting European heavyweights Real Madrid are eyeing the Liverpool player could turn Alexander-Arnold's head. But if his current contractual situation turns sour, Carragher, unlike his colleagues, fears the niceties will be thrown out the window.
“There is no doubt in my mind that Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah will be treated differently to Trent Alexander-Arnold,” Carragher admitted on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.
“If you think about it, Mo Salah earns £350-£400,000 a week – Liverpool signed him for £40m. “Trent probably has half that money, and he didn't cost anything, but there's no banner in the Kop saying 'give Trent his pop,' and there never will be.”
The comment comes in the wake of Reds fans displaying a banner from Anfield's famous Kop last month that read: “He's firing an arc. Now give Mo his money,” suggesting their club's owners will extend Salah's current lucrative deal.
“I look at when Michael Owen left to go to Real Madrid, Steve McManaman did the same thing and didn't think anything of it,” Carragher added. “Because if you're a local player you're almost seen as if you should almost be grateful to play for the club. 'This is your club – who do you think you almost are'.”
The Bernabeu, like Owen and McManaman, is Alexander-Arnold's proposed destination as The Telegraph reports that Los Blancos, who have long been interested in the defender, will try to land him on a free transfer next summer – in a similar manner to how they secured the services of Kylian Mbappé from PSG this year.
“The Trent thing will start,” Carragher concluded. “I can assure you that it won't be the fans saying 'give him what he wants', but 'who does he think he is'.”
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