We have two things to solve with Trent. On the pitch and off it.
On the pitch what is his position? Right back, and stepping into midfield as a playmaker from the position? That’s how it was all shaping up before injury. But now Bradley has emerged, and Klopp has announced he is leaving, so we can’t be sure what the new manager will want. If it is Amorim he seems to prefer three at the back, so at that point, Trent would probably be one of the two pivots in midfield. There are still some question marks there. Maybe that’s what he will do, and he will excel, or maybe he doesn’t clearly establish himself in the role, both with the glut of midfielders we have, and the possibility that the new manager might dip into the market too. Trent - smashing player, so good on the ball, but strangely, there are legitimate question marks over him when it comes to what the future holds at LFC on the pitch.
And those question marks might be a moot point if he doesn’t sign a new deal, as he will be off. Thats the second big question mark. Will he sign a new deal? If not, we should try to sell, as letting a top player leave on a Bosman, in their mid 20s, is careless. The other part of that is that the player obviously has agency and the club can’t make anyone do anything if they are keeping their options open.
Real Madrid are lurking, and the situation is vulnerable. Real Madrid are also extending themselves to sign Mbappe, so I doubt they will be wanting to pay a fee for Trent when they can have him on a Bosman a year later. Then again, who will be the new manager of Real Madrid at that point, and is it a foregone conclusion that they will sign Trent Alexander Arnold? Maybe it will be Xabi Alonso, and he will be wanting Frimpong as his right back/wing back? Too many variables to know what’s what.
Perhaps from a Liverpool perspective if Trent doesn’t sign a new deal then this summer we do a deal for Rodrygo, with Trent going the other way? That gives us a versatile and very good forward/winger, as with Endrick and Mbappe joining Real Madrid, playing time for Rodrygo might be limited.