Alexander-Arnold tipped as next Coutinho as Liverpool seek new Alisson and Van Dijk

Robin Bairner

• 15 Apr 2023 21:25 BST
• 3 min read

Liverpool have been told that they are at least two players away from challenging for the Premier League title again and have been told to sell Trent Alexander-Arnold to fund moves to allow them to sign such stars.

Alexander-Arnold has had a disappointing season at Anfield but with an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €89 million could provide the type of transfer windfall that manager Jurgen Klopp craves in order to rebuild his side.

The Anfield club will seek to strengthen their midfield among other areas in the summer, but Klopp effectively gave up any chance of landing top target Jude Bellingham.

MORE: Liverpool close on Bellingham alternative after agent 'spotted at Anfield

“They had this problem before they got Alisson and Van Dijk, but they did the right deals to bring in the money and bring in the right players who made a massive difference,” former Premier League striker Tony Cascarino told TalkSport.

“You have to earn more money, that’s the only way you can challenge and compete against these teams.”

When it was put to him that Liverpool don’t have a Philippe Coutinho-type player they can sell to Barcelona for more than €100m or more, Cascarino replied: “Who would you say is at the right age is the most favourable player at Liverpool [for other clubs] at the moment? You’d probably say Trent.

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“Even though he’s had a difficult year, Trent is of an age – he’s 24 – where you can still get a really big deal for him.

“He’s a Barcelona type of player, or a team that wants to play the way Trent does.”

Alexander-Arnold to Barca a non-starter

Barcelona have few fond memories of Coutinho, who endured a poor record for the club after making a bumper move in January 2018. Only belatedly were they able to get him off their books, with Aston Villa ultimately buying him for €20m - €100m less than he had been signed for.

Alexander-Arnold, meanwhile, is unlikely to be sold due to the lack of clubs who can afford his asking price, while Liverpool will not sell to a Premier League rival, even if they are willing to part with him.