Real Madrid star sends 4-word birthday message to Liverpool ace Trent Alexander-Arnold amid transfer rumors

Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold turned 26 on Monday, October 7, and he received special birthday wishes from his good friend and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham. The duo, both members of the England national team, share a strong bond and are often seen together during international camps. The duo have shared the pitch together 10 times for the Three Lions, helping the team win on seven occasions.

Alexander-Arnold has been with Liverpool for his entire career, joining the club’s academy at the age of just six years. He progressed through the ranks before making his senior debut under Jurgen Klopp in 2016. Now the vice-captain of his boyhood club, the full-back has made 319 appearances, scoring 19 goals while providing 81 assists.

Although Alexander-Arnold remains a key figure at Liverpool, recent speculation about his future has been making headlines. His contract is set to expire at the end of the 2024-25 season. While the defender has remained tight-lipped about his next steps, he recently stated that he is driven by success and winning titles.

Real Madrid have certainly emerged as the leading contender for the 26-year-old’s signature. With their first-choice right-back, Dani Carvajal, sidelined due to a long-term injury, club president Florentino Perez may look to secure Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer next summer.

Jude Bellingham, meanwhile, could play an integral role in convincing Alexander-Arnold to join Real Madrid, making his birthday wish all the more intriguing to fans.

“Happy birthday my brother,” Bellingham wrote, accompanied by two heart emojis.

While speculation about his future continues, Alexander-Arnold’s immediate focus will be on the ongoiing season, as he appears to have further improved under manager Arne Slot. With Liverpool currently sitting top of the Premier League table, Slot and the club will hope that success and potential silverware will convince the full-back to extend his stay at Anfield.

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Former Chelsea defender criticizes Liverpool’s handling of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contract situation

Former Chelsea player and now pundit Jason Cundy was left perplexed by Liverpool’s decision to delay addressing Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contract situation. Moreover, it’s not just Alexander-Arnold whose contract is expiring; the deals of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are also coming to an end, which has left Liverpool anxious over the futures of their key players.

Cundy criticized Liverpool, stating that he was ‘stunned’ at seeing the club taking so long to resolve the situation, particularly considering Alexander-Arnold’s quality and age.

“Trent is the one that is a head-scratcher for me," he said on TalkSport (via Mirror). "He’s 25/26, to allow him to go, that is ridiculous for me. His contract is going to expire. How are we having this conversation, why is this conversation taking place? This conversation is obsolete, because the contract, as far as we’re aware, hasn’t taken place."

"I’m stunned, we’re in October now. If you value the player enough at your football club, they should not go into the final two years of their contract," Cundy added.

For now, speculation continues to swirl around all three players. However, Liverpool’s focus will be fully on the upcoming months, as the team are set to face a challenging set of fixtures both domestically and in Europe.