Arne Slot: Liverpool boss on Trent Alexander-Arnold and keeping team together in summer

Arne Slot believes keeping his Liverpool team together would mark a "big summer" for the club as he insisted Trent Alexander-Arnold's future is still "not done".

The Reds have secured captain Virgil van Dijk and leading scorer Mohamed Salah on new two-year deals, but there is uncertainty around the future of right-back Alexander Arnold because his contract expires in the summer.

"It's already a big summer now," said Slot. "It was a big thing - 'can we hold on to them?'.

"And by holding on already to two, it's already a big summer and let's see what the rest of the summer will bring.

"It would be strange for me to say now I'm not happy with the team we have, because I've said it for a year so we are happy with the team we have. Maybe if we can even keep that team that would already be a big summer."

Asked about Alexander-Arnold's situation, head coach Slot said: "Let's see what the future brings."

The England defender is wanted by Real Madrid, who have endured a troubling week.

Knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage by Arsenal, the future of Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is in question and Spanish football expert Guillem Balague says the Bernabeu side are "in need of refreshing".

Alexander-Arnold could be on the bench for Liverpool's league game at Leicester City on Sunday following just over five weeks out with an ankle injury.

Although Slot maintained his position of not discussing the contractual situations of players, the Dutchman praised the quality and attitude of the 26-year-old.

"We don't talk about these things [contracts] as long as things are not done yet and they aren't, so that's why we don't talk in public about his situation," said Slot.

Asked if he hoped Alexander-Arnold still saw his future with the Reds, Slot added: "Trent is coming back from an injury and trained with us yesterday. Every time he plays and trains with us he shows his commitment.

"He's worked so hard to be back already and the moment he is on the pitch he shows me what a great football player he is and how much he's involved in us trying to achieve our goals this season.

"He's worked so hard during the whole season and now in his rehab to be back with the team again.

"The fans of Liverpool, everyone who watches football for the last five, six or seven years, knows he is an incredible full-back, has been an incredible full-back for this football club and let's see what the future brings."

Liverpool are 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League and would secure a 20th top-flight title if they beat Leicester and second-placed Arsenal lose to Ipswich earlier on Sunday.

They look set to become champions in Slot's first season since he succeeded Jurgen Klopp, having only added forward Federico Chiesa to their ranks for the 2024-25 campaign.

"I think the core of the team you want to keep as long as you can together, as long as they are performing in the best possible way," said Slot.

"It's good to have some new energy in and around the place with one or two new players, but it isn't really a necessity if you look at the quality we have and the quality of the season we have had."

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