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Ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hoped that Trent Alexander-Arnold would extend his contract.

(Image: RedBull/YouTube)

Jurgen Klopp previously claimed that he would love Trent Alexander-Arnold to stay put with Liverpool following contract uncertainty.

However, the iconic Reds manager did not get his wish as it was confirmed on Monday that the 26-year-old will leave the club upon the expiry of his current deal.

The exit comes following intense speculation around his future - and subsequent interest from Real Madrid.

Los Blancos are in line to sign the England international on a free transfer when his time is up at Anfield.

Klopp introduced Alexander-Arnold to the first-team set-up and was at the helm for the Reds' successful period which saw academy graduate Alexander-Arnold win a glut of major honours by the age of 21.

READ MORE:What the ECHO learned about Trent Alexander-Arnold exit and how Liverpool lost battle to Real MadridREAD MORE:Jamie Carragher has already made Liverpool demand after Trent Alexander-Arnold exit decision

During his unveiling as Red Bull's Head of Global Soccer, the ever-popular German discussed the prospect of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Alexander-Arnold signing new deals at the club.

"I'm so happy that I'm not in charge in that situation and have to answer these questions - so why should I do that now?

Good luck," he said.

"From my point-of-view, I'd love all three of them to extend their contracts but I don't know, they didn't text me, I could text them now maybe get an answer.

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"Trent yeah [could move to Red Bull in the future] then he can finally learn defending.

"I can't believe you all still discuss this still, it's so poor, so poor still.

I'm so glad I'm not apart of that, I've watched a few press conferences and think; 'Oh my god, they still don't understand it'.

"Yes, he didn't play well against Manchester United, but if you made such a fuss about him playing well as much of a fuss when he doesn't, it would be a different planet."

After months of speculation and silence from Alexander-Arnold regarding his future, it became clear that Liverpool will become a player light in their full-back reason after months of efforts to extend his deal.

"One hundred per cent, [staying was] a massive possibility," he said in an interview with the official club website.

"I've got full confidence in the manager and the staff and the club going forward.

"It's not about me thinking we're not going to fight for titles or fight for trophies season-in, season-out because I knew from these first few moments with the manager that he was a winner, he was aiming to go and win things.

"And you've seen that this season with the way that we've played."

He added: "So it was never about not having confidence in that, it just boiled down to what I felt I needed, and that is a change.

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"That's something I need to do on my personal journey as a person, but also as a player and a professional, to go and challenge myself elsewhere.

"I feel like a challenge in a different environment is something that I need to do as a player."

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