Liverpool boss Arne Slot has insisted that speculation surrounding the future of defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is not having a negative effect on his squad.
The 26-year-old right-back, along with star players Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, is approaching the final months of his contract at Anfield. While recent reports have hinted that Alexander-Arnold could be on the verge of a free transfer to Real Madrid, sources close to the club have yet to confirm any deal.
Slot, speaking to the press ahead of Liverpool’s next fixture, refused to delve into the swirling transfer gossip. He pointed out that Alexander-Arnold’s current focus is on his recovery from injury rather than any off-field distractions.
“Trent’s situation is that he’s dealing with an injury, which has, of course, meant that we haven’t seen the kind of performances from him that we’d normally expect, including his brilliant contributions for England,” Slot explained. “But for him right now, it’s all about getting back to full fitness, and that’s where his mind is. We’re just doing everything we can to support him through this.”
Slot also emphasized that despite ongoing rumors about the futures of several key players at Liverpool, the team’s mentality remains unchanged. He noted that for all the talk surrounding Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, and Salah, the squad’s primary goal has been to stay focused on their immediate objectives, including the upcoming Merseyside derby.
“This has been going on for months now, and honestly, it doesn’t affect me or the team. We’ve learned to tune out all the speculation,” Slot continued. “For Virgil and Mo, it’s about winning the next match. For Trent, it’s about getting healthy again.”
The 26-year-old’s injury has kept him sidelined for a while, but Slot remains optimistic about his eventual return to the pitch. With months of speculation behind him, Slot has made it clear that his focus is squarely on the team’s collective goals – and that includes helping Alexander-Arnold regain full fitness as soon as possible.
