Arne Slot believes keeping his Liverpool team together would mark a “big summer” for the club as he insisted Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future is still “not done”.
The Reds have secured captain Virgil van Dijk and leading scorer Mohamed Salah on new two-year deals, but there is uncertainty around the future of right-back Alexander Arnold because his contract expires in the summer.
“It’s already a big summer now,” said Slot. “It was a big thing – ‘can we hold on to them?’.
“And by holding on already to two, it’s already a big summer and let’s see what the rest of the summer will bring.
“It would be strange for me to say now I’m not happy with the team we have, because I’ve said it for a year so we are happy with the team we have. Maybe if we can even keep that team that would already be a big summer.”
Asked about Alexander-Arnold’s situation, head coach Slot said: “Let’s see what the future brings.”
The England defender is wanted by Real Madrid, who have endured a troubling week.
Knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage by Arsenal, the future of Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is in question and Spanish football expert Guillem Balague says the Bernabeu side are “in need of refreshing”.
“We don’t talk about these things [contracts] as long as things are not done yet and they aren’t, so that’s why we don’t talk in public about his situation,” said Slot.
Asked if he hoped Alexander-Arnold still saw his future with the Reds, Slot added: “Trent is coming back from an injury and trained with us yesterday. Every time he plays and trains with us he shows his commitment.
“He’s worked so hard to be back already and the moment he is on the pitch he shows me what a great football player he is and how much he’s involved in us trying to achieve our goals this season.
“He’s worked so hard during the whole season and now in his rehab to be back with the team again.
“The fans of Liverpool, everyone who watches football for the last five, six or seven years, knows he is an incredible full-back, has been an incredible full-back for this football club and let’s see what the future brings.”
