Recent reports from sections of the British media suggest that Madrid is working on finalizing a deal for Alexander-Arnold, who is in the final year of his Liverpool contract and could leave on a free transfer at the end of the season. Neither club has officially commented on the rumored transfer.
Slot, however, downplayed the impact of such speculation, emphasizing that Liverpool has been dealing with uncertainty surrounding Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, and Virgil van Dijk all season.
“It’s a situation that has been there for eight or nine months now,” Slot said. “All three players have performed exceptionally well despite the speculation, so it doesn’t affect me at all.”
The rumors intensified during the international break, particularly as Alexander-Arnold was absent from England’s World Cup qualifiers due to an ankle injury sustained in Liverpool’s Champions League exit against Paris Saint-Germain on March 11. The injury will also keep him out of Wednesday’s crucial Merseyside derby against Everton.
“He is injured,” Slot stated. “That means he is fully focused on his recovery, and we are helping him get back as soon as possible. For the rest, we haven’t been distracted by talks about him, Virgil, or Mo. Our focus is on what we need to do—winning games.”
Liverpool currently leads the Premier League by 12 points over second-placed Arsenal with nine matches remaining. If they secure the title, they will match Manchester United’s record of 20 league championships.
Alexander-Arnold, 26, has spent his entire career at Liverpool, winning every major club honor, including the Premier League and Champions League. His potential departure would mark the end of an era, but for now, Liverpool remains concentrated on finishing the season strong.