Liverpool news: Reds fan Steven Scragg on Trent Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool fan and writer Steven Scragg says he doesn’t “blame” Trent Alexander-Arnold if he wants to leave Anfield for Real Madrid this summer, citing the club’s “carelessness” as one of the main reasons the academy graduate looks set to leave.

Speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside, Scragg said: “The more it has rumbled on, the less of a shock it has become. It’s disappointing news to hear that it’s basically a done deal because nobody wants to lose a player of that calibre or value.

“Real Madrid have picked a player off us three times now. They got two players for free and then Michael Owen at a significant markdown.

“It is a multi-faceted thing: you don’t want to lose a player of that calibre, no matter what.

“We often talk about how we lost Philippe Coutinho. For the price of Coutinho we got Virgil van Dijk and Alisson, but there isn’t going to be a cushion that is comparable this time round.

“Hopefully he will be leaving behind the reigning Premier League champions – so there is going to be life after him and I don’t blame him for wanting to go.

“If there’s going to be any kind of finger-pointing then it should be the club’s carelessness in allowing it to get to this situation, plus the fact that they have done it to so many different players.”

Listen to the full conversation on BBC Sounds