In Conor Bradley, Liverpool already have a perfect replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold lined, according to former scout Mick Brown.
Out of Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, the former arguably feels the most likely to leave Anfield at the end of this season.
That’s not to say that Liverpool’s vice-captain won’t sign a new deal, but links to Real Madrid aren’t going away and he isn’t exactly shutting down those claims.
Speaking to Football Insider, Brown said that Bradley is a great replacement option for Alexander-Arnold, should he leave his boyhood club next summer:
“I saw a lot of Bradley when he was at Bolton. They played him very high up the pitch, he was a wing-back but almost playing as a winger. I kept thinking I want to see him tested in defence, I want to know how good he really is. Since he’s gone back to Liverpool, he’s certainly shown that.
“It surprised me, if I’m honest, how well he adapted to the step up. He’s done so well that I’ve heard they view him as a ready-made replacement for Alexander-Arnold. I don’t think they’d lose too much if he was the one to step in if Trent does move to Real Madrid, he’s perfectly capable of replacing him.
“He’ll have to adapt again and get used to Slot’s system, but he’s shown he’s capable of playing in different roles and I’d back him to make that position his own.”
Our thoughts on Bradley being Alexander-Arnold’s successor…
Alexander-Arnold staying at Liverpool is easily the best outcome, considering he is one of the greatest right-backs of his generation, being hailed as “world-class” by Jurgen Klopp.
If he does move on, though, there will be an understandable clamour for the Reds to sign an elite replacement, but Bradley has shown what a brilliant young talent he is.
The 21-year-old has been undaunted every time he has taken to the field, not least during a stunning performance at home to Chelsea last season, when he scored his first-ever Liverpool goal and registered two assists.
The easy choice would be to sign a right-back and keep Bradley on as second choice, but there is an argument to say that he is good enough to be a regular starter.
Hopefully, this is all insignificant, though, with Alexander-Arnold staying where he is.
