Ian Wright explains Liverpool board’s major error during Trent Alexander-Arnold transfer saga | OneFootball

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has hit out at the way the Liverpool board and management handled the Trent Alexander-Arnold transfer saga in the last couple of years.

The Reds right-back recently confirmed that he’d be leaving Anfield on a free transfer once his contract came to an end.

It’s pretty remarkable that Liverpool ever allowed a player as important as Alexander-Arnold to get so close to the end of his contract, and Wright thinks they should have sold him two years ago.

The pundit, speaking on the latest episode of The Overlap, stated his view that Liverpool played this all wrong, and should have made it clear they were offering him a huge contract much earlier.

How Liverpool should have dealt with Trent Alexander-Arnold

Sticking up for Alexander-Arnold, Wright aimed the blame at the club’s door, saying: “That’s not his fault, is it? You have to look at the management. How can you let a player like that (leave)? You should have offered him something. It’s the club’s fault.

Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrates Liverpool’s title victory (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

“They might have offered something, but that was too late … make a statement that we’ve offered him the best contract we’ve ever offered anybody in this team.

“It’s there. If he’s not going to sign it, we’re going to sell him. That could have happened and it didn’t happen.”

Liverpool kept two of their other contract rebels

Thankfully for Liverpool, they were eventually able to keep hold of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

Those two also came very close to becoming free agents, but their new deals were recently officially confirmed.

Still, it’s another reminder of just how close LFC came to an absolute disaster this summer, and they have to ensure they learn from this so it doesn’t happen again.

Alexander-Arnold, to his credit, seemed to take advantage of the situation well and he’s now most likely earned himself a dream move to Real Madrid for next season, as per BBC Sport and others.