'Can't get my head around': TalkSPORT pundit left utterly shocked by situation developing at Liverpool

Today at 04:00 PM

Liverpool have begun the season in terrific form as they settle into life under Arne Slot.

There had been an air of uncertainty over what to expect from the Reds this year following the exit of Jurgen Klopp.

But Slot has done brilliantly so far. Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Bologna on Wednesday night made the Dutchman’s the most successful start for a manager or head coach in Liverpool history.

With everything rosy on the pitch, though, there has been a worrying situation developing for some time off it.

It is now less than three months until Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold can speak to clubs outside of England about signing a pre-contract for next summer.

With Salah the match-winner against Bologna and both Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold still key men in the Liverpool squad, too, those within the game have been left wondering what exactly is going on.

Jamie O’Hara appalled by Trent Alexander-Arnold situation

Although there is such little time for them to sort this out, Liverpool do not seem to be moving especially quickly to get any of these three contracts done.

It has been claimed that those within the football industry are shocked at Liverpool for allowing three such big players to get so close to their contract expiries.

That reaction can certainly be extended to supporters of the club as well. Frankly, no one can understand how things have gotten so far.

Perhaps the most baffling situation is that of Alexander-Arnold. Still only 25 and a proud graduate of the Liverpool academy, it is incredible that the Reds have allowed themselves to come within months of losing such a talent.

READ MORE: Liverpool keeping tabs on La Liga talent to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold

And speaking on TalkSPORT on Thursday, former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie O’Hara admitted that he ‘can’t get his head around’ what’s going on with Liverpool and Trent.

“The Trent one amazes me,” says a baffled O’Hara. “I can’t get my head around how someone of that quality who’s in his twenties, young, who’s probably worth what, £100m, if not more.

“For him to go into January in three months time, he can literally turn around and go to, say, Real Madrid, ‘how much do you want for me?'”

Real Madrid switch their focus

Although this situation was very much a live one over the summer, there were understandable reasons why things did not progress during that time.

But with the transfer window now closed for more than one month, you do have to wonder what is going on behind closed doors at Anfield.

There was perhaps some positive news for Liverpool fans on Thursday, though.

Claims that Real Madrid have been tailing Alexander-Arnold have persisted for some months now, with the European Champions’ interest obvious cause for concern.

But it has now been claimed that Real Madrid have Tottenham’s Pedro Porro down as an Alexander-Arnold alternative. Maybe their switch of focus means that a breakthrough has been reached with Trent? We’ll just have to wait and see.