Liverpool 'aligned in principle' over defender's new contract as Trent Alexander-Arnold 'expectation' emerges

The Northern Ireland international is currently out of action with a hamstring injury, which is expected to sideline him until early April, but he has quickly become a well-valued member of the Reds' squad.

Bradley has risen through the ranks to become Trent Alexander-Arnold's trusted right-back deputy, providing two assists from 22 appearances this season, including one against Real Madrid in a 2-0 Champions League win.

The 21-year-old only signed his last extension with Liverpool as recently as December 2023 and is not due to become a free agent until 2027, but according to The Sun, discussions over a fresh deal have been opened.

Liverpool and Bradley are supposedly both keen to continue their partnership until at least the end of the 2029-30 campaign, and the defender can expect a mammoth pay rise on his current salary.

Bradley to earn £75k per week with new Liverpool deal?

Bradley is only said to be earning £10,000 a week under his current terms, which according to Capology makes him the joint fourth-lowest paid player at Anfield, only ahead of Vitezslav Jaros, Tyler Morton and Harvey Davies.

However, the report adds that Bradley's fresh terms will see his weekly wages rise to £75,000, which would be more than what Ibrahima Konate (£70k) and Luis Diaz (£55k) currently pocket on Merseyside.

The Northern Irishman and Liverpool are supposedly 'aligned in principle' over a new deal, and there is optimism that a full agreement could be reached before the end of the current campaign.

The Reds have seemingly been spurred on to tie Bradley down to a renewal due to increasing uncertainty over the future of Alexander-Arnold, who is now in the final three months of his contract.

As there has been no progress in talks with Alexander-Arnold's camp over fresh terms, it is apparently increasingly likely that the England international will be jumping ship for Real Madrid this summer.

Rather than go out and buy a new first-choice right-back, Slot has reportedly earmarked Bradley as a player who could become Alexander-Arnold's successor, which will be reflected in his new contract and revised pay packet.

Is Bradley's new Liverpool contract a no-brainer?

Bradley might not be able to replicate Alexander-Arnold's extraordinary passing range and playmaking from deep - which few full-backs can - but the 2003-born defender brings a different type or prowess from right-back.

The Northern Ireland international quickly won over the Anfield crowd with his lung-busting displays both going forwards and backwards; his last-ditch tackle on Kylian Mbappe should be one of his all-time career highlights.

Furthermore, Bradley's driving runs both down the flanks and into the middle can prove highly useful to Liverpool's attacks, as proven with his assist for Dominik Szoboszlai against Tottenham Hotspur in the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final.

While Alexander-Arnold might yet choose to stay, keeping the emerging Bradley at the club for the long-term is an absolute no-brainer for Liverpool, as he has already contributed one goal and nine assists from his first 50 games for the club.

Written by

Ben Knapton