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Trent Alexander-Arnold has announced his departure from Liverpool, with the defender now set to leave Anfield at the end of this season.

The 26-year-old right-back will leave Merseyside as a modern-day legend with the Reds having come through Liverpool’s academy to win everything there is to win with the Premier League giants whilst also redefining the fullback role on a global scale.

With Real Madrid next up for Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool will need a replacement for the England international, a task that could prove impossible given how unique the right-back is and what his role requires in Arne Slot’s system.

Yet a football data expert appears to have identified the dream successor for Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool going into the summer.

READ MORE: Whether Trent Alexander-Arnold is going to play in the Club World Cup for Real Madrid as Liverpool demand transfer fee

Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images

Speaking to the i Paper, Analytics FC’s chief executive Alex Stewart identified Celta Vigo’s Oscar Mingueza as the perfect replacement for Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool, with the Spanish international ticking all the boxes the Reds are looking for this summer in regards to a new right-back.

Stewart said on Mingueza: “He’s an excellent fit, brings much of the quality of passing, except perhaps in transitions, and adds a bit more defensively than Trent, as well as being able to fill in at centre-back or even left-back if needed.”

A graduate of FC Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, the three-time Spanish international has established himself as one of the most consistent fullbacks in La Liga since moving to Celta Vigo in 2022 from the Catalan giants.

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And with Alexander-Arnold now confirming his exit from Liverpool, the time is now for the Anfield side to make a move for Mingueza, who could be keen on joining the Reds if an offer were to be made in the summer.

Liverpool are fully aware that they will need to go in a different direction if they’re to replace Alexander-Arnold in the summer, with the England international a player who simply has no real equal in the current game, given his abilities.

Yet there have been a number of players who have been linked with the Reds that could fill out the role as Alexander-Arnold’s replacement, with Jeremie Frimpong long linked with Liverpool as Anfield’s own Conor Bradley looks like the current favourite to take over the right-back spot next season.

Indeed, replacing Alexander-Arnold will not be a straightforward process for Liverpool, yet options are out there, and there is a chance that a surprise player could be signed to fill in the void left behind by the defender.