The worst-kept secret in football was finally revealed when Liverpool defender, Trent Alexander-Arnold, confirmed his intention to leave Anfield at the end of the season. The England international had been widely linked with a move to Real Madrid, and he’s now set to line up in Spain at the start of the next campaign.
With Liverpool having already closed out the Premier League title, the Merseyside club can afford to consider their options. Against Arsenal on May 11th, Alexander-Arnold was left on the bench while Northern Ireland international Conor Bradley started in his place.
Arne Slot’s men have been linked with a number of high profile replacements, but could Bradley step up and make that right back position his own?
Trent’s Rise
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been with Liverpool for his entire career, starting with the youth academy from the age of just six. Since breaking into the first team, he’s played an essential role in all of his club’s successful seasons.
The defender will leave Anfield with eight major trophies to his name, including two Premier League titles. Liverpool’s strong performances at the start of this season saw them lead the Premier League betting markets for much of the campaign, and they finally claimed the trophy at Tottenham in April.
It’s an impressive CV, and his departure leaves a big hole on the right side of defence. It’s a tough blow for the Anfield faithful to take, but can Conor Bradley step in and become the new hero?
Like for Like?
Both men play on the right side of defence, so there are bound to be similarities between Bradley and Trent Alexander-Arnold, but there are slight differences in their styles of play. Trent likes to maraud and provide an outlet higher up the field, while Conor Bradley tends to stay out on the flanks.
There is a theory that Bradley provides a more stable base at the back, while he’s also been described as one of Liverpool’s best crossers of a ball. One negative aspect is a tendency to give away more fouls. In short, while this wouldn’t be a like-for-like replacement, Conor Bradley may be the traditional defender that his club needs right now.
Areas for Improvement
If Conor Bradley has aspirations to cover the right back slot on a full time basis, there is one key area of his game that he will want to address. Not only is Trent Alexander-Arnold a world class defender, he’s also a threat at the other end of the pitch.
With a powerful and accurate shot, Trent provides an option from set pieces, and he also scores goals in open play. As his time at Anfield winds down, Alexander-Arnold has scored 23 goals for the club across all competitions. Bradley, meanwhile, has just one goal in 55 games in his Liverpool career.
It’s not a defender’s job to score goals, and Trent isn’t exactly prolific, but it’s a side to his play that Bradley will need to emulate.
Considering Other Options
If Liverpool decide to look elsewhere for their first choice right back, there will be plenty of options. Links have been made ever since Trent Alexander-Arnold confirmed his departure, and one name that keeps appearing is that of Jeremie Frimpong.
A Dutch international defender who currently plays in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig, Frimpong may be a more natural replacement for Trent. The reported fee of 45 million Euros is also felt to be relatively modest and well within the Reds’ budget.
Another Netherlands international, Denzel Dumfries, has also been linked with a move to Anfield, and it’s easy to see why the Dutch connection is being made. Manager Arne Slot will be familiar with these players, and Liverpool have recently acquired some of the best Dutch talent, most notably Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo.
Ready to Step Up
One issue in Conor Bradley’s favour involves the financial details of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure. Liverpool’s current first choice right back is at the end of his contract, so technically, the club will not receive a fee when he departs for Real Madrid. Reports suggest that money will change hands but any payment will be a modest one.
A club of Liverpool’s size are in a position to pay big money for available talent, but promoting a player from within the ranks would be a shrewd financial move, especially at a time when all teams have to adhere to the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules.
Above all, it seems certain that Conor Bradley is ready to step up and fill the void left by Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure. When the youngster has covered for his teammate, he’s proved a reliable deputy and hasn’t let his side down. Liverpool may yet enter the transfer market for a bigger name, but the feeling within the club is that Bradley is perfectly ready to be promoted into Trent’s place.