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In less than two weeks, Trent Alexander-Arnold will be free to negotiate a contract with potential suitors.

With his Liverpool deal set to expire next summer, the 26-year-old is currently evaluating his options as the Reds continue to work diligently behind the scenes to tie him down to a new contract.

Real Madrid want to sign Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer and the Scouser is believed to be tempted by the prospect of joining the Spanish giants.

However, Jamie Carragher has fired a warning to the Liverpool right-back as his contract standoff with the club continues.

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Losing Alexander-Arnold would undoubtedly be a painful blow for Liverpool, but that’s not to say they haven’t lost key players to Spanish teams in the past.

The likes of Xabi Alonso, Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho all swapped Merseyside for La Liga in the past, with Liverpool receiving a hefty transfer fee on each occasion.

However, if Alexander-Arnold decides to leave Liverpool now, his departure wouldn’t fetch the Reds anything in terms of transfer fees, which would be a tough pill to swallow for the club.

Carragher urged the 26-year-old to sign a new contract with a buyout clause, which would allow him to have a say on a potential future transfer.

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Steve McManaman moved to Real Madrid on a free transfer over 24 years ago and to this day, the Anfield faithful are a little hurt by the fact that the club didn’t benefit financially from his move.

“That is the biggest issue for Trent – the free transfer,” wrote Carragher in his column for the Telegraph.

“As with Macca, the supporters will feel that the club are losing an £80 million player for nothing, and they will not like it.

“My advice to Trent would be to sign a new deal, with a reasonable buyout clause, that will give the club some value if Real or anyone else decide to meet it.”

Conor Bradley is already at the club and could become Liverpool’s first-choice right-back if Alexander-Arnold leaves at the end of the season.

The Reds have also been linked with a few replacements, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong believed to have keen admirers at Anfield.

However, Arne Slot feels Frimpong wouldn’t suit his system at Liverpool, due to which the Dutchman isn’t a priority at this point in time.

What Liverpool do on the transfer front wouldn’t really matter if they renew Alexander-Arnold’s contract.

And judging by how negotiations have panned out so far, that remains the priority for all parties involved.

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