Liverpool are likely to be in the market for a new right-back this summer as Trent Alexander-Arnold prepares for a controversial exit.
Alexander-Arnold has been a phenomenal player for the Reds after coming through the academy but is set to depart on a free transfer for Real Madrid.
With Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah signing new contracts with Liverpool recently, some fans have convinced themselves that Trent is staying too.
But with just six matches of the season left to play, all the signs point to the Scouser deserting his boyhood club and heading to Spain.
For most fans, Conor Bradley is the natural successor to Alexander-Arnold, with the Northern Irishman showing more than enough over the past two years to warrant being given a chance.
But with Bradley’s injury history a bit of a worry, Liverpool clearly need to bring someone in to compete with the 21-year-old. Interestingly, BBC Sport have presented three up-and-coming options as potential candidates.
Liverpool told of three potential fixes at right-back
It should be noted that Liverpool have been heavily linked with Jeremie Frimpong, who would probably come in as an immediate starter, with Bradley retaining his back-up status.
However, with Liverpool needing to spend funds in other areas, it would seem more likely that a younger player will be brought in to compete with Bradley.
According to BBC Sport, there are three slightly under the radar options who could come in and do that.
The first suggestion is Strasbourg right-back Guela Doue, who is claimed to be potentially ‘ideal for Arne Slot’s back line’. The 22-year-old is said to be strong one-vs-one and can ‘move the ball upfield with his passes and carries.’
Another suggestion is Ajax’s Anton Gaaei. As Rousing The Kop revealed back in March, Liverpool have been watching Gaaei this season and the 22-year-old has reportedly earned the tag of the ‘Danish Beckham.’ That says it all.
Finally, Porto’s 19-year-old right-back Martim Fernandes is also put forward as a possibility. Although said to be more of a ‘project signing,’ Fernandes is suggested as someone who is displaying impressive composure on the ball as well as possessing an ‘excellent engine.’
Are any of these signings likely?
If Liverpool do go down the route of bringing in a young player to offer competition for Bradley, each of these three players sound like possible options.
| Player | Age | Teams | Senior Appearances | Senior Goals | Senior Assists |
| Guela Doue | 22 | Strasbourg | 65 | 1 | 3 |
| Anton Gaaei | 22 | Ajax/Viborg | 118 | 4 | 14 |
| Martim Fernandes | 19 | Porto | 36 | 0 | 6 |
| Givairo Read | 19 | Feyenoord/FC Volendam | 30 | 1 | 7 |
| Conor Bradley | 21 | Liverpool/Bolton | 105 | 8 | 15 |
However, given he is the youngest of the three and therefore has the most potential of future first-team status, we would perhaps put Fernandes down as the most likely signing.
The other two are perhaps more longer-term back-up options, but Liverpool should be looking at someone who could potentially be better than Bradley. We’re not sure either Doue or Gaaei fit that bill.
Liverpool have also been linked with Feyenoord’s Givairo Read, a 19-year-old who has been making an impact with Slot’s old side this season.
Read signed a new contract this week, but he will likely be another on Liverpool’s radar as they assess another key decision this summer.