Andy Townsend has urged Liverpool to re-sign Trent Alexander-Arnold from Real Madrid, with the defender's future at the Bernabeu uncertain under new boss Jose Mourinho and following the arrival of Denzel Dumfries.
Difficult first season in Spain
The England international left Liverpool last summer after running down his contract, joining Real Madrid for £10m a month before his deal expired, allowing him to play in the FIFA Club World Cup. However, the 27-year-old struggled with form and injury in his first season, making just 21 La Liga appearances and starting 22 times in the league and Champions League combined, with five assists.
He was left out of England's squad for the World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the US, and his place at Real Madrid is now under threat after Mourinho signed Dumfries.
Liverpool's right-back woes
Liverpool have struggled at right-back since Alexander-Arnold's departure. Conor Bradley is a long-term absentee with a knee injury, and Jeremie Frimpong has had a below-par first season, struggling for form and fitness. With Andoni Iraola short defensively after Frimpong limped off in the pre-season loss to Leeds United, Townsend believes Liverpool should act.
“First and foremost, purely as a player, if he came back to Liverpool, would he improve them? 100 percent, yes,” Townsend said on talkSPORT. “[Jeremie] Frimpong one, as a right-back, I’ve not really got.
“It’s so important nowadays with these full backs being such an important part of a team’s attacking intentions. If you can’t deliver anything half decent when you get into a good area, and from what I’ve seen of him so far, I’ve not really seen that final delivery, which Trent can do in his sleep.
“So, I think he absolutely would improve them. The question is how the club would feel about it. That’s going to be a difficult pill probably for some Liverpool fans to swallow.
Loan move suggested
Townsend added: “He doesn't need another season like he had last time. That would have been a big disappointment to him. Secretly, he would have been a little hurt that it never happened, he never really got going and had a few injury issues.
“I think Liverpool should, if they can get any deal done for him on a loan basis for a season, whatever those fees are now, up to £10 million for a season, I wouldn't turn your nose up at that to get that boy back through the door. He is top, top drawer.”
Alexander-Arnold faced backlash from Liverpool fans after deciding not to renew his contract, and was booed by some at Anfield when he played against them for Real Madrid in November.
