Liverpool manager Arne Slot has shrugged off speculation surrounding Trent Alexander-Arnold’s potential move to Real Madrid.
Thus, he insists that it has no impact on his team’s pursuit of the Premier League title.
With reports emerging that the Spanish giants are interested in signing the 26-year-old full-back, who is in the final year of his contract, Slot maintains that the transfer rumors are not affecting the ultimate focus at Anfield.
Speaking on Tuesday, Slot addressed the ongoing media reports linking Alexander-Arnold to Madrid, as well as rumors about other key Liverpool players, such as Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, whose contracts also expire at the end of the season.
Despite the constant chatter, Slot said that his team has remained undistracted throughout the campaign.
“It’s a situation that has been with us for eight or nine months now,” Slot said. “And all three of these players have performed so well under these circumstances, so it doesn’t affect me at all.”
The rumors surrounding Alexander-Arnold’s future have been fueled further by his injury setback. The Liverpool right-back has been sidelined with an ankle injury since the team’s Champions League elimination by Paris Saint-Germain on March 11.
This injury has meant that Alexander-Arnold missed England’s recent World Cup qualifiers and will also be unavailable for the upcoming Merseyside derby against local rivals Everton.
Slot stressed that while Alexander-Arnold recovers, Liverpool’s focus remains on maintaining their lead in the Premier League, where they sit 12 points ahead of second-place Arsenal.
With only nine matches left, Liverpool is on track to secure a 20th league title, which would equal Manchester United’s record.
“Trent is injured, so he is fully focused on his recovery,” Slot said. “For us, it’s about making sure he gets back as soon as possible. As for Virgil and Mo, we’re focused on the next match, which is the Merseyside derby.”
Alexander-Arnold, who has been with Liverpool since his youth days, has played a crucial role in the club’s recent successes, including winning the Premier League and Champions League.
