Liverpool will finally replace Trent Alexander-Arnold with generational right-back

Liverpool will finally replace Trent Alexander-Arnold with generational right-back

A long-term successor to Trent Alexander-Arnold may finally be on Liverpool’s radar, with the need for a true right-back becoming increasingly urgent.

Conor Bradley’s injury earlier this season has only exposed an issue that Richard Hughes was always likely to face this season.

Despite the recruitment team’s efforts, replacing a player of Alexander-Arnold’s unique profile has proven far more difficult than anticipated.

It’s becoming increasingly clear that Jeremie Frimpong is viewed more as an attacking option by Arne Slot rather than a traditional right-back and he's also got injury problems himself.

Frimpong's strengths lie higher up the pitch, and he has not been consistently trusted in a deeper defensive role. Meanwhile, Dominik Szoboszlai has filled in at right-back on occasion, but that has always felt like a temporary fix rather than a long-term solution.

Beyond the defensive concerns, Liverpool are also feeling the absence of Alexander-Arnold’s creativity. His ability to dictate play from deep and unlock defences was a key part of the team’s identity. Florian Wirtz was expected to help compensate for that loss, but so far, he has yet to fully deliver in that regard.

All signs now point toward Liverpool needing to invest in a specialist right-back in the summer window.

And it looks like they are going to sign one of the most exciting pick of the bunch.

They were already in the mix for him last summer.

We all know Richard Hughes has strong Italian connections and last summer according to a report, Marco Palestra was a player the Reds made an offer to sign.

In the end, that offer was rejected and Palestra has gone out on loan in Serie A from Atalanta to Cagliari, where he has excelled in his role.

Now TEAMtalk report that Liverpool are a serious contender to sign Palestra this summer, having tracked him extensively over the course of this season.

And this, this could finally be the long awaited replacement for Trent. Because in Palestra there is a generational talent - very much on par with Alexander-Arnold.

Palestra is the perfect modern day right-back. He is extremely fast and he is comfortable with both feet. He predominantly plays as a right-back but he can also play as a left-back making him the ideal squad player.

The speed and the way he looks to create are the assets that make him a stand-out option in the market. On top of that there's also his age.

He is only 20-years-old. He can still grow and develop so much in the coming seasons.

He's in the 96th percentile for progressive carries (3.76 per 90 minutes) and for successful take-ons (4.31 per 90 minutes).

Palestra is a very complete player and he's also a two-in-one because can play both the right-back and the left-back position.

The youngster is actually comfortable with both feet. He's played in both sides of the pitch as well, and that would make him an incredibly valuable addition because he is an absolute unicorn.

How many full-backs are there in world football who play in Europe's top five leagues and are capable of playing on both flanks?

It's why he's a no brainer.