Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has admitted everyone at the club is disappointed that Trent Alexander-Arnold has decided to leave at the end of the season.
On Monday, the England international confirmed his decision not to extend his contract which expires in the summer – something which had been expected for a while amid long-term links to Real Madrid.
Slot has not spoken in person to the defender since the announcement – only via WhatsApp – but intends to talk to him on Friday to see how he is feeling about the fallout, which has received a mixed reception from fans and pundits.
“I think, like everybody who likes Liverpool and is a fan of Liverpool, we are disappointed for him leaving because not only a good human being is leaving the club but a very good full-back is leaving us as well,” said Slot.
“But I also worked at clubs like AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord, where every season a very good player or multiple very good players have left the club, so I am a bit more used to it.
“But the experience I have – and by the way this club as well – is that if a very good player is leaving, the next very good player will step up and that probably will happen now.”
More to follow…
