Arsenal legend Ian Wright has hit out at the way the Liverpool board and management handled the Trent Alexander-Arnold transfer saga in the last couple of years.
The Reds right-back recently confirmed that he’d be leaving Anfield on a free transfer once his contract came to an end.
It’s pretty remarkable that Liverpool ever allowed a player as important as Alexander-Arnold to get so close to the end of his contract, and Wright thinks they should have sold him two years ago.
The pundit, speaking on the latest episode of The Overlap, stated his view that Liverpool played this all wrong, and should have made it clear they were offering him a huge contract much earlier.
How Liverpool should have dealt with Trent Alexander-Arnold
Sticking up for Alexander-Arnold, Wright aimed the blame at the club’s door, saying: “That’s not his fault, is it? You have to look at the management. How can you let a player like that (leave)? You should have offered him something. It’s the club’s fault.
“They might have offered something, but that was too late … make a statement that we’ve offered him the best contract we’ve ever offered anybody in this team.
“It’s there. If he’s not going to sign it, we’re going to sell him. That could have happened and it didn’t happen.”
Liverpool kept two of their other contract rebels
Thankfully for Liverpool, they were eventually able to keep hold of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.
Those two also came very close to becoming free agents, but their new deals were recently officially confirmed.
Still, it’s another reminder of just how close LFC came to an absolute disaster this summer, and they have to ensure they learn from this so it doesn’t happen again.
Alexander-Arnold, to his credit, seemed to take advantage of the situation well and he’s now most likely earned himself a dream move to Real Madrid for next season, as per BBC Sport and others.
Well – what if Real contacted TAA two years ago and told him that they were there for him if he ran his contract down and explained not having to pay a transfer fee for him meant that they could/would pay him more into his own pocket…Yes I agree that Management could have been stronger and said sign or we are selling you two years ago – but it was also obvious that TAA was idolised at the club by supporters. As far as Wright is concerned he sticks up for TAA and blames LFC Management…TAA could still even NOW sign an LFC contract with a minimised buy out clause/so that LFC get something back for him/but he will not Wrighty/do you know – that would mean less money into his greedy own pocket/that is doing the dirty on your lifetime Club/will destroy his Legacy forever! As far as letting him go early for £1 million…you have got to be joking…the prize money for winning The World Club Championship is £100 million…that’s what Real want £100 million- so of I am the LFC Board I am saying to Real – you pinched him for nothing/if you want him early we want £5 million – take it or leave it…letting Real have him to play in The World Club Championship for £1 million is crazy/don’t do it LFC. TNWA!
The lesson is know your players! Also don’t let anyone run down their contracts less than two years, unless you don’t value them at all. If Liverpool had offered Trent an extension when southgate wouldn’t give him an England slot and the pundits where all saying he couldn’t defend, if someone had put their arm around him and told him they had faith and to prove it offered him a further 5 yrs at £250k/wk he’d still be with us. This better not happen with Konate. Hughes must decide how much he can be paid offer it now and if he he won’t accept it sell him now to PSG.