Journo namedrops ‘no-brainer’ decision that could prove to be cornerstone of Slot’s Liverpool reign

James Pearce makes Trent Alexander-Arnold and Arne Slot Liverpool claim

Speaking on the Walk On podcast, The Athletic’s James Pearce sees the ideal situation with incoming Liverpool boss Arne Slot making such an offer for club vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold that the 25-year-old right-back can’t refuse.

Here is what Pearce had to say on the Walk On podcast with Trent now entering the final 12 months of his contract with the Reds (Transfermarkt):

“I’ve got to be honest, I would make Trent the kind of offer this summer that shows him that he is going to be an absolute cornerstone of this team for the next five years and that when Virgil van Dijk calls it a day, he will become the club captain, and that Slot wants to build his Liverpool team around him.”If he was to get that, I think it becomes a no-brainer in terms of signing it. If it drags on into the autumn, I just think it would be very grim if it reached a point where you were even thinking about selling someone as gifted as Trent Alexander-Arnold.”

How many players in world football are better than Trent on the ball? How many have the quality he possesses and bring what he does to the table? Even if you give a list of ten players, the likelihood of them moving to the Reds comes into question. Irrespective of that, it is very very and very crucial to keep someone like the local lad at the club for as long as possible.

The Scouser in our Team!

A local boy, coming up the team’s academy, making his mark in the first team, winning (almost) every possible trophy and seeing himself progress to the title of vice-captain. This is not even half his story. Slot should make it crystal clear that he plans to build the future Liverpool squad around Alexander-Arnold, even hinting that he could be the skipper down the line once van Dijk hangs up his boots.

It’d not only give him the assurance of his importance within the team but also line up nicely with his ambitions for leadership and long-term success at Liverpool. Pearce reckons nabbing Alexander-Arnold’s commitment should be right at the top of Liverpool’s to-do list, especially given the lad’s immense talent and importance to the squad.

There’s also a huge risk if the contract talks do not lead anywhere. If these talks drag on until autumn as Pearce sees it, we could potentially see the back of TAA and that is something no Liverpool fan would want to do, especially considering Klopp’s departure at the end of this season.

For Liverpool, keeping hold of Alexander-Arnold isn’t just about securing a talented player; it’s about keeping the club’s spirit alive and building for the future. With Slot taking over from Klopp, making sure Alexander-Arnold’s at the heart of the team’s plans would bring some much-needed stability and continuity during a time of change.

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By offering him a contract that truly reflects his value to the team and laying out a clear vision for his role under Arne Slot’s leadership, Liverpool can make sure one of their brightest stars stays put for the long haul.