Arsene Wenger claims Liverpool lost 'new transfer game' as Arne Slot recruitment plans unchanged

Arsene Wenger

Arne Slot is once more expected to ring the changes when Arsenal visit Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.

Having made as many as six for Sunday's 3-1 loss at Chelsea, the new Premier League champions are likely to recall a string of first-team stars for the visit of the second-placed Gunners.

Victory offers the Reds the chance to move a whopping 18 points of clear Mikel Arteta's men

Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes Real Madrid's pursuit of Trent Alexander-Arnold dates as far back as two years, with the promise of a lucrative contract as a free agent.

On Monday, Alexander-Arnold announced his decision to leave Anfield at the end of the season when his contract expires and he is expected to move to los Blancos on a free transfer before the start of next season.

The prospect of Madrid taking the England international before the end of his official terms on June 30 has been broached in order for the defender to feature in the revamped Club World Cup in the United States next month.

It's unclear what Liverpool's stance is on that at present, with talks understood to have begun on Monday night over the possibility of Alexander-Arnold switching for a nominal fee that would mean the Reds don't have to pay a month's salary during June for a player who is leaving.

Gunners great Wenger, speaking to beIN Sports as part of their Champions League coverage, said Real Madrid opened talks with Alexander-Arnold's camp a "long, long time ago",

despite the Liverpool player only telling the club of his intentions as recently as March.

Wenger said:

"Am I surprised by the timing? Not really because the season is over for them.

“And overall I think the timing is all right because Liverpool are champions, they are not going for any other trophies and he has to announce it. It gives Liverpool time to look for another defender.

"I still believe that Liverpool [will] lose a great player and it will be difficult to replace because he is a creative full-back and we love them.

"I believe that it shows Trent's transfer, it shows a new transfer game. It's not a transfer anymore, because the big, big players, they go at the end of their contracts.

"Because the wages are so high, you want to buy Marcel (Desailly, co-host) you have to give him so much money and you cannot afford the transfer [fee] anymore.

"So what do the clubs do? The big club, they say two years before the end of a contract: 'We want to buy you, we're secure, we'll give you this wage and we will try to make an offer to the club'.

"'If it doesn't work, we will come back next time. And then if it doesn't work, we will come back and take you for free.'

“That is what they (Real Madrid) did with Kylian Mbappe as well. Real Madrid approached Alexander-Arnold a long, long time ago."

Alexander-Arnold decision won't prompt rethink In transfer activity