Liverpool-supporting UFC star Paddy Pimblett has revealed he has heard "through the grapevine" that Trent Alexander-Arnold will leave Anfield in 2025.
Alexander-Arnold is one of three Liverpool players with contracts expiring at the end of the season. Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk also face uncertain futures despite playing an important part in Arne Slot's first season as manager.
Homegrown right-back Alexander-Arnold has been strongly linked with Real Madrid, His friend and England team-mate Jude Bellingham is already at the Bernabeu, and the defender has been tipped to follow suit.
Liverpool-born Pimblett, 29, still expects Van Dijk and Salah to stay put. However, he's less confident when it comes to Alexander-Arnold's future.
“I hope [Alexander-Arnold stays] but I'm hearing lots of things through the grapevine that he's going," Pimblett told OLBG. "I think Virgil and Salah are going to stay, but I don't know what's happening with Trent, I hope he stays because he's going to be Liverpool captain one day, if he stays he's going to be a Liverpool legend, he's going to be remembered forever and he'll win more.
"But I think he'll leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth if he leaves on a free. Steve McManaman [left on a free transfer] – I've met him before he's a nice fella – but he doesn't get looked at in the nicest way in the city, you know what mean? Neither does Michael Owen.
"And if they wouldn't have left, they would have been club legends. Trent can be a club legend if he wants to, he can be remembered like Gerrard, but it's up to him whether he wants to do that.“
If Alexander-Arnold does end up leaving Anfield, Liverpool have a ready-made replacement in the form of Conor Bradley. The Northern Ireland international enjoyed a breakout season last term and already has the backing of his fellow right-back.
"The future star - (Harvey Elliott's) injured so I'm gonna have to go with Conor," Alexander-Arnold told Sky Sports. "I like to play 90 minutes but I know how good he is and I trust in him to get the job done and to help the team win the game."
Liverpool will be able to call on their three soon to be out-of-contract stars when they face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. For club captain Van Dijk, the match will represent the 100th time he has captained the side across all competitions.
Bradley is touch-and-go for the match after sitting out last weekend's victory over Chelsea, but striker Diogo Jota and goalkeeper Alisson are definitely unavailable. "He's progressing well, like we expect, but it's not a short-term recovery," Slot said of Alisson, who suffered a hamstring injury before the international break.