Star at Liverpool is “better than Jude Bellingham,” yet FSG runs the risk of losing him for nothing

Liverpool faces the possibility of losing a top player to a free transfer.

Even though one of his teammates believes the 25-year-old Alexander-Arnold, is better than Jude Bellingham, Liverpool might lose him for nothing. One of the best players to come through Liverpool’s youth ranks in recent memory, the Reds defender faces an unclear future.

Throughout his career, Alexander-Arnold has remained at his boyhood club, although his current contract is about to expire in less than a year. The Reds’ owners, Fenway Sports Group, have not yet started contract negotiations, but if they don’t move quickly, they risk losing him on a free transfer the following summer.

Given how crucial Alexander-Arnold has been to Liverpool since joining their senior squad in 2016, it would undoubtedly be a huge blow. Losing him without getting paid a transfer fee would also make it more difficult for them to afford a suitable successor.

It appears that his teammates would rather see him stay at Anfield; Diogo Jota is one of many who has shown his respect for the England defender. Jota was asked to rank five players blindly in a recent Goal video without knowing which player’s name would be put out next.

The first player to be named was Alexander-Arnold, who was ranked second by Jota. The next to be mentioned was Bellingham, which caused Jota to ponder briefly before placing the Real Madrid star third, after his Liverpool colleague.

Not only Reds players have been gushing about Alexander-Arnold; Declan Rice, an Arsenal midfielder, also praised the right-back while he was representing England at the Euros.

“He’s a player any country would appreciate,” Rice added. “He’s a player we have to play, we have to get involved, and our attackers should be thriving playing off someone like Trent because his passing is off the scale.”

Anfield mosaic that seemed to indicate Alexander-Arnold was set to sign a new contract recently had Liverpool supporters going crazy. The arrangement of seat coverings seemed to spell out either ’66 2028′ or ’66 2029,’ his long-term squad number along with the year until which he had potentially signed.

However, that notion has now been refuted, with the form of the coverings being simply coincidental and probably caused by Merseyside’s windy conditions. Although it’s still largely anticipated that the Reds will sign Alexander-Arnold to a new deal, it’s unclear when talks will start. Time is critical because, as things stand, he will be free to sign a pre-contract deal with a foreign club in January.