Three Trent Alexander-Arnold incidents add fuel to complicated Liverpool contract saga

The transfer window sometimes gets called 'silly season' but the social media panic around Trent Alexander-Arnold's movements shows how speculation is swirling

There remains no breakthrough in contract talks between Trent Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool.

But as we start to get close to Jingle Bells time, nerves continue to jangle over the future of the Reds right-back. Maybe even more than they are for Mo Salah or Virgil van Dijk.

So when a billboard allegedly in Madrid appears on social media with Alexander-Arnold on it, there is panic among fans in the online world. Or when the player himself is spotted in his home city with a camera crew following him, there is chatter that it is the club filming an elaborate announcement video of a new contract.

It is not the first time the latter has happened in the last few months. Alexander-Arnold is a popular man so film crews are often in his company.

Then when the Liverpool calendar for next year is leaked online, there’s discussion about the placement of Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Van Dijk as the pictures for the early months of the year.

As if the club is sending messages about their players' futures through merchandise. We usually call the transfer window “silly season” but welcome to Liverpool’s contract talks version.

The advertisement in Madrid was coincidental as Alexander-Arnold posed alongside model Iris Law for a Guess campaign he signed up for months ago. We don't even know if this is still up in the Spanish city or when it was first plastered there.

The billboard posters have appeared in other cities around Europe. The sight of Alexander-Arnold’s face supposedly in Madrid still sends shivers down the spines of concerned Reds.

But it is not some hijinks from Real Madrid. Of course, they will have made Alexander-Arnold’s people well aware of their interest in the full-back. His future beyond the end of June remains in doubt after all.

There is growing unease among supporters because January nears and that allows players like Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Van Dijk to speak to foreign clubs.

But their representatives wouldn’t be doing their jobs properly if they didn’t already know what is on offer elsewhere if they decide not to renew with the Reds.

In truth, January only opens the door to pen being put-to-paper on pre-contract agreements but all three are expected to keep dialogue open with Liverpool even if nothing is agreed before Auld Lang Syne gets an airing on December 31.

While the loss of Salah’s attacking prowess given his continued impressive numbers this season seems unthinkable and the sight of Van Dijk walking away in the summer unfathomable for some, Alexander-Arnold leaving would sting differently.

Yes, the defender now has company with Curtis Jones as “the scouser in our team” as the Kop chant goes. But he’s the boy who peered over the fence at Melwood to watch his heroes train - and one day went on to become that hero to other youngsters in the area.

Liverpool, much like bitter rivals Manchester United, adore having one of their own in their team. But, at 26, Alexander-Arnold has much to ponder. This could be the biggest contract he signs in his career, with the next one likely to be when he’s entering or in his 30s.

The cries of ‘Give all three what they want’ don’t really have much substance until we know exactly what all three players are asking for to stay. Alexander-Arnold’s situation could be down to money, contract length or status in the squad. Maybe all three or other issues which come into play when talks get into the finer details.

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Or maybe he is still just keeping his options open. Arne Slot has Liverpool flying at the top of the Premier League and Champions League but it is still early days of the new regime.

Having won everything possible with his boyhood club, maybe the lure to play abroad is there for a man in his mid 20s.

Alexander-Arnold nor the club want discussions to play out in public - but while the silence is there, the speculation will keep everyone concerned simmering. In some cases, it turns into losing their minds over calendars, camera crews and capital city advertising campaigns.

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