Liverpool is not anticipated to focus on acquiring a new right-back during the summer transfer window, even with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s expected transfer to Real Madrid.
Alexander-Arnold is likely to say goodbye to Anfield at the conclusion of the season, having played a pivotal role in securing Liverpool’s record-equalling 20th league title.
His forthcoming contract in Spain is expected to offer a substantial salary increase, although it will not rival the earnings of Madrid’s highest-paid players.
The pressing concern for Liverpool is how to fill the void left by a player who has been regarded as one of the finest full-backs in the world in recent years, particularly since he will not command a transfer fee.
Although there have been rumors linking Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong and Feyenoord’s Lutsharel Geertruida with a move to Merseyside, Liverpool has alternative plans.
According to reports from Sky Sports and The Athletic, the club intends to place their trust in Conor Bradley as their primary right-back moving forward.
The home-grown Northern Ireland international has generally impressed whenever he has filled in for Alexander-Arnold during injury absences over the past 18 months and is the most cost effective option because it means not dipping into the transfer market.
Liverpool don’t have another senior right-back in the squad, but either Jarell Quansah or Joe Gomez, both of whom are linked with summer exits, could be granted a new lease of life as cover in a new position, instead of being viewed as surplus to requirements at centre-back.
Despite winning the Premier League title this season, the squad is still almost exclusively the one that Jurgen Klopp left behind 12 months ago and needs re-energising if Arne Slot is to follow up this season’s success in the future.
Positions other than right-back, notably up front, on the wings and left-back, the latter where Andrew Robertson is beginning to fade, are more pressing.
Liverpool refrained from ‘panic buying’ a midfielder last summer, turning down the chance to sign Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain before he joined Manchester United.
Instead, the better idea was seen to utilise what they had by giving Ryan Gravenberch a season-defining new role.
So developing existing squad players into starters is tried and tested for Slot and his staff.