Trent Alexander Arnold | Real Madrid working on deal (Ornstein)

[Shark]

feck sake, they might actually sign a decent right back now.

They might sign somebody who can actually defend now, but unlikely they'll find somebody who offers TAA's attacking ability.

 

[sullydnl]

Nice move for both Madrid and TAA.

There's no real shame in losing a player to Madrid, but getting to a point where three players as key as Salah, VVD and TAA are out of contract at the same time has to be a massive mistake. TAA in particular comes with a lot of market value, you've gotta push for a sale before he runs his contract down.

 

[kidbob]

Have to admire Madrid just abandoning the spending big and realising they can just get anyone they want for free at this point.

 

[paulscholes18]

If confirmed now, can if affect Liverpool remaining season?

The league is all but wrapped up, I can't see it making a difference.

 

[HTG]

Ok fair enough but point being Real Madrid is a bigger club than Liverpool, the biggest in the world, no shame in that, says more about the player really.

Agree.

 

[Quagmaguire]

Have to admire Madrid just abandoning the spending big and realising they can just get anyone they want for free at this point.

It's really weird how tapping up wasn't allowed before but now it's seemed to be fine.

He isn't just talking to Real Madrid on the last year of his contract - he is being asked by Real Madrid to run down their contracts so they get a big signing on fee and contract. The same happened with Mbappe, Rudiger, David Alaba.

@RedRocket9908

 

[RedRocket9908]

It's really weird how tapping up wasn't allowed before but now it's seemed to be fine.

He is in the last 6 months of his his contract so he is free to speak to Real Madrid or any other club outside of England under the Bosman ruling.

 

[Sandikan]

Pool really gonna lose their 3 best players for free in 1 summer? Surely that's unacceptable management, even Woodward wouldn't allow that.

Trent was always the certainty to go. The other 2 are surely way less likely. Though we hope all 3 disappear for free.

 

[Sandikan]

Is he any good?

Everytime we played Liverpool he has been a liability.

As long as you have most of the ball in every game and he doesn't need to be anywhere near his own box, it'll be fine.
And don't mind absolute spamming of percentage ball crosses into the box all game, 1 or 2 per month might come off.

 

[2 man midfield]

He is in the last 6 months of his his contract so he is free to speak to Real Madrid or any other club outside of England under the Bosman ruling.

That’s his point though. The reason he ran it down was because Madrid tapped him up and told him to. If Madrid hadn’t done that, he’d probably sign a new deal.

 

[DOTA]

I don't recall there ever being a point serious attempts to stop tapping up were made. Frankly I'm not sure how it could be stopped. It's best practice not to have your director of football pictured with other teams' players in nice restaurants I guess but no one's really gonna try and stop you privately getting word to a player that your club is eyeing them up.

 

[Maluco]

Madrid are making a habit of this now, and it’s a dirty one.

Liverpool should be giving the minutes to a player who will be there next season now.

 

[RobinLFC]

I don't recall there ever being a point serious attempts to stop tapping up were made. Frankly I'm not sure how it could be stopped. It's best practice not to have your director of football pictured with other teams' players in nice restaurants I guess but no one's really gonna try and stop you privately getting word to a player that your club is eyeing them up.

Can't be stopped and it doesn't even need to be that official indeed, you can basically just have Bellingham telling him on England duty. Happens everywhere, in different kinds of sports as well even though it's not allowed.

 

[SalfordRed18]

Madrid are making a habit of this now, and it’s a dirty one.

Liverpool should be giving the minutes to a player who will be there next season now.

I don't blame them. When we saw pogba and coutinho go for huge fees (relative at the time), and then the even bigger Neymar and mbappe fees which haven't been matched since, i said it back then, were going to see the best players going for frees more often than not. PSR has made it even more of a necessity.

Were now at a point where even the top clubs can't afford the top players anymore, so this is how they get around it. Just wish ed Woodward had cottoned on to this fact.

 

[Teja]

I don't recall there ever being a point serious attempts to stop tapping up were made. Frankly I'm not sure how it could be stopped. It's best practice not to have your director of football pictured with other teams' players in nice restaurants I guess but no one's really gonna try and stop you privately getting word to a player that your club is eyeing them up.

All they managed was to bloat the agent industry to skirt the regulations. Now intermediaries talk to intermediaries and it can't be counted as tapping up or something. Most regulation is stupid.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

That’s his point though. The reason he ran it down was because Madrid tapped him up and told him to. If Madrid hadn’t done that, he’d probably sign a new deal.

That’s not really true. Players know that they can run their contract down, and if they are the right profile and right age, they can earn an absolute fortune.

If not Real, other clubs would be in for him. He ran his contract down to get better opportunities - irrespective of whether Real spoke to him beforehand.

 

[RobinLFC]

That’s not really true. Players know that they can run their contract down, and if they are the right profile and right age, they can earn an absolute fortune.

If not Real, other clubs would be in for him. He ran his contract down to get better opportunities - irrespective of whether Real spoke to him beforehand.

Nothing but a hunch on my side but he wouldn't have done this if it wasn't Real (or perhaps Barcelona) that was interested and he knew about it. He's not joining another English club, and won't waste his prime years in France or one of the Italian big clubs. Perhaps Bayern but don't think he'd leave Liverpool for them either.

 

[golden_blunder]

feck sake, they might actually sign a decent right back now.

They already have a promising one in Bradley. They just need to let him cook

 

[Klopper76]

Knew that was happening for a while. Can't say I blame him. Gets a huge signing on fee, more likely to keep winning things at Madrid than with us and gets to try something new. My guess is he made his mind up when Klopp announced he was leaving.

I hope he's ready for the heat he'll get if he has a bad high profile game. Liverpool fans have defended him a lot even when he's had a bad game (or season in 22/23). He won't get that at Madrid imo.

He's improved a lot defensively this season. The United game aside, he's been one of the best in his position.

 

[Klopper76]

They already have a promising one in Bradley. They just need to let him cook

He's no where near good enough to start every week.

 

[Gandalf]

Nothing but a hunch on my side but he wouldn't have done this if it wasn't Real (or perhaps Barcelona) that was interested and he knew about it. He's not joining another English club, and won't waste his prime years in France or one of the Italian big clubs. Perhaps Bayern but don't think he'd leave Liverpool for them either.

Maybe, but he is not bound to sign for a lesser club after running down his deal if Real or Barca are not waiting, he can always wait and see and then just stay at Liverpool if the offer he wants does not materialize. It is a win/win for the player. Daniel Levy being an absolute twat and blocking Kane from leaving after getting him to extend has more to do with the attitude of current British players, nobody wants to get stuck like Harry was that summer he thought he was joining City.

 

[Oranges038]

I don't blame them. When we saw pogba and coutinho go for huge fees (relative at the time), and then the even bigger Neymar and mbappe fees which haven't been matched since, i said it back then, were going to see the best players going for frees more often than not. PSR has made it even more of a necessity.

Were now at a point where even the top clubs can't afford the top players anymore, so this is how they get around it. Just wish ed Woodward had cottoned on to this fact.

It was always going to end this way. From a players point of view as well as the clubs it makes perfect sense. Both end up financially better off.

 

[Leg-End]

Surprised more top end talents don't run their deals down to give them multiple options where they can make more money for themselves, its pretty common in most other sports but for whatever reason its sort of looked down on in football.

 

[golden_blunder]

He's no where near good enough to start every week.

Neither was Neville but at some point you need to let them play

 

[RaddyRed]

Wonder if he will get booed by any of the Anfield crowd in his next game, they seem quite upset about this.

 

[Maluco]

I don't blame them. When we saw pogba and coutinho go for huge fees (relative at the time), and then the even bigger Neymar and mbappe fees which haven't been matched since, i said it back then, were going to see the best players going for frees more often than not. PSR has made it even more of a necessity.

Were now at a point where even the top clubs can't afford the top players anymore, so this is how they get around it. Just wish ed Woodward had cottoned on to this fact.

While that’s true, it’s still a dirty tactic. They have obviously been in his ear encouraging him to do this for a while.

The “right” thing to do would be to focus on their vast scouting network and do what they did with the likes of Vini Jr, Valverde and Rodrygo.

Liverpool should be compensated for a player they have invested in and brought through. They shouldn’t have to worry about Madrid in his ear months, possibly years, before his contract is up.

It’s a natural conclusion of the process you have outlined, but it doesn’t make it a clean one. It’s still a dirty tactic to make up for other clubs dirty tactics.

 

[Maluco]

Wonder if he will get booed by any of the Anfield crowd in his next game, they seem quite upset about this.

I think this injury he has will get stretched out for a few games now

 

[Gandalf]

While that’s true, it’s still a dirty tactic. They have obviously been in his ear encouraging him to do this for a while.

The “right” thing to do would be to focus on their vast scouting network and do what they did with the likes of Vini Jr, Valverde and Rodrygo.

Liverpool should be compensated for a player they have invested in and brought through. They shouldn’t have to worry about Madrid in his ear months, possibly years, before his contract is up.

It’s a natural conclusion of the process you have outlined, but it doesn’t make it a clean one. It’s still a dirty tactic to make up for other clubs dirty tactics.

And Liverpool would be entitled to be upset about it if they hadn't signed the likes of Milner and Matip for free to name just a couple. The pearl clutching from Liverpool fans over the outrageous behavior of Real Madrid is both hilarious and hypocritical as they would cheerfully take Vini Jr on a free if they actually had the pull to attract him.

 

[Nickelodeon]

It's really weird how tapping up wasn't allowed before but now it's seemed to be fine.

He isn't just talking to Real Madrid on the last year of his contract - he is being asked by Real Madrid to run down their contracts so they get a big signing on fee and contract. The same happened with Mbappe, Rudiger, David Alaba.

@RedRocket9908

It’s futile to draw these boundaries. With same agents across multiple players, even if we don’t see Ashley Cole type images, there’s no way tapping up could be avoided.

 

[Ghostrider318]

I thought this wont happen till 2026. If TAA goes to madrid this summer then there is a high HIGH chance pool give Salah that new deal. I was convinced ( especially after he cried after their CL loss ) that he will leave for Saudi on a massive contract

 

[NotoriousISSY]

I understand why he would want it, but I do think it’s a terrible career move.

Leaving Liverpool might not be a bad idea, but I’m not convinced the Madrid spotlight for such a polarising player will be fruitful.

It is nice to see Liverpool lose one of their own at the peak of his powers just as they’re about to win a PL though.

 

[saivet]

I understand why he would want it, but I do think it’s a terrible career move.

Leaving Liverpool might not be a bad idea, but I’m not convinced the Madrid spotlight for such a polarising player will be fruitful.

It is nice to see Liverpool lose one of their own at the peak of his powers just as they’re about to win a PL though.

From his point of view the spotlight might be less than at Liverpool. I think he will be more of aware of the English press than the Spanish press and if he goes to Madrid the English press interest will naturally quieten down. He's not a superstar like Beckham was when he went to Madrid, so I'd expect him to be fine. It's base off anecdotal evidence but from what I've seen / heard about him I do think he has the personality to do fine at Madrid.

 

[Mike Smalling]

He ain't got nothing on Carvajal.

Anyone know if it's likely that he will be allowed to drift in and take up a midfield position in possession like he has done for Liverpool recently?

 

[Klopper76]

And Liverpool would be entitled to be upset about it if they hadn't signed the likes of Milner and Matip for free to name just a couple. The pearl clutching from Liverpool fans over the outrageous behavior of Real Madrid is both hilarious and hypocritical as they would cheerfully take Vini Jr on a free if they actually had the pull to attract him.

I haven't seen any Liverpool fans complaining about how Madrid have acted.

 

[KeanoMagicHat]

He ain't got nothing on Carvajal.

Anyone know if it's likely that he will be allowed to drift in and take up a midfield position in possession like he has done for Liverpool recently?

Probably as Real Madrid are strong but weak-ish by their standards in that deep build-up without Kroos and with Modric nearly 40. They have more athletes than creators in midfield.

 

[2 man midfield]

That’s not really true. Players know that they can run their contract down, and if they are the right profile and right age, they can earn an absolute fortune.

If not Real, other clubs would be in for him. He ran his contract down to get better opportunities - irrespective of whether Real spoke to him beforehand.

The only person that can answer that is him. But we know he’s been linked to Madrid for over a year now, and most players assess their options or sign a new deal when it gets into the final 12-18 months. Seems like Madrid have been in contact all along and said we’ll offer you a contract when your current one expires, so don’t extend. It would be pretty daft from his point of view to just let his contract run out with no options on the table. What if he gets a long term injury now?

 

[FootyGirl88]

Waiting to hear Carraghers thoughts I know he must be losing it right now

 

[HTG]

Anyone made a farmers league joke yet?

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

The only person that can answer that is him. But we know he’s been linked to Madrid for over a year now, and most players assess their options or sign a new deal when it gets into the final 12-18 months. Seems like Madrid have been in contact all along and said we’ll offer you a contract when your current one expires, so don’t extend. It would be pretty daft from his point of view to just let his contract run out with no options on the table. What if he gets a long term injury now?

The risk always lies with the individual. Until something is signed, there would be no guarantees that Madrid would even offer him a contract - football can change very quickly. He could have signed a contract with Real on 1 Jan, and hasn’t thus far. Only now is it escalating.

When a player is running down their contract they then have the power balance. That’s very attractive, and often the only way to actually change clubs - I don’t think Liverpool would even entertain an offer from Real if he had a long term contract.

 

[NicolaSacco]

Waiting to hear Carraghers thoughts I know he must be losing it right now

I don’t think any ex-pros will be losing it. They will all understand the pull of Madrid. What will happen is that about 5% of Liverpool fans will get the hump, irrationally, like some here do with Luke Shaw. And it will be those peeps who TalkSport will give airtime to, and the Rawk in meltdown thread will keep quoting!