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Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes contacted Trent Alexander-Arnold's representatives to engage in contract talks prior to even officially taking up his job at Anfield last year.

The contract saga involving Alexander-Arnold is over after the 26-year-old announced on Monday he will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the 2024/25 season when his contract expires.

While his move to Real Madrid has not been officially confirmed yet, it is a certainty he will be moving to the Spanish capital to join Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe at the Bernabeu.

But while Alexander-Arnold is set to depart the club with Liverpool and Arne Slot's best wishes, there is no doubt they wanted to keep the right-back on Merseyside.

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Following Jurgen Klopp's announcement he would be stepping down as Liverpool boss, there was plenty of uncertainty about the direction the Reds were headed.

However, the return of Michael Edwards as Fenway Sports Group's chief executive of football, alongside the appointment of Hughes from Bournemouth as Liverpool's sporting director in March 2024 set the Reds course for the upcoming post-Klopp era.

And it has now emerged that prior to officially starting his role with Liverpool, Hughes contacted Alexander-Arnold's representatives to begin contract talks with the Reds right-back.

According to the Athletic, Hughes' first call on the job, before starting the role he officially began in June 2024, was to open talks with Alexander-Arnold and his representatives over a new deal.

The Reds made Alexander-Arnold an offer in late April on a new deal, with the 26-year-old said to understand just why it had taken the club so long to engage in talks over a contract extension given the upheaval behind the scenes at Anfield.

The Athletic also add Liverpool's contract offer would have made Alexander-Arnold the highest-paid full-back in the Premier League.

However, ultimately it seems as though Alexander-Arnold had his heart set on leaving Liverpool, a decision that can not have been easy for the right-back who has won everything there is to win at club level with the Reds.

By his own admission, Alexander-Arnold cited he needs a new challenge, both "as a player and as a person."

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Henry told the right-back following the Reds second Premier League title win: "You’ve been an amazing player for this team and I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve given to this club

In confirming the news of his departure, Alexander-Arnold told Liverpool's official club website: "I think first and foremost, I want to say it’s not an easy decision and there’s a lot of thought and feeling that has gone into it," Alexander-Arnold told Liverpool's official club website.

"I’ve been here 20 years now, loved every single minute of it, achieved all my dreams, achieved everything I’ve ever wanted to here.

"Giving everything day in, day out for 20 years, I’ve got to a point now where I feel like I need a new change, a new challenge for me as a player and as a person