Liverpool boss Arne Slot reacts to Real Madrid interest in Trent Alexander-Arnold

Arne Slot has dismissed speculation linking Trent Alexander-Arnold with a move to Real Madrid, insisting he is not concerned by three of his star players being in the final year of their contracts.

Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk will all see their current deals expire at the end of the season, meaning they could all leave Anfield on free transfers.

That seems like a disastrous situation for the club, but Slot insists he is unmoved by it and his players are also happy and focussed on the tasks ahead of them this season.

Alexander-Arnold has specifically been touted as a key target for Real Madrid, who could begin negotiations with him in January if he doesn’t sign a new contract, but the Dutchman is relaxed about the situation.

‘These players are used to being linked with all the top clubs on a daily basis,’ said Slot. ‘If they have contracts or not. If you think they’re disturbed by these interests, then I think you don’t do justice to how strong they are mentally and what they are used to. This is part of our job.

‘I was at Feyenoord last year and they linked me with many clubs and before that and before that. This is part of this world we are living in.

‘You just focus on what you have to do. Maybe if you’re 17 or 18 years of age, that could be difficult for you. But Trent has won the league, has won the Champions League.

‘Virgil [van Dijk] and Mo [Salah] the same. I don’t think that is a problem for them to perform. That’s also what we see at the moment because they’re playing really well, put it that way.’

Unsurprisingly, questions about the the futures of the three star names are regularly put to the Liverpool boss, but he has no updates to provide and reiterates that he is not really bothered about the topic.

‘For me it is not something I am wondering about,’ he said. ‘If after the last game of this season is played then it might bother me to think ‘are they here or not?

‘But my main focus is now the short-term and I think in football it is mainly about the short-term – especially if you are a manager.’

Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Van Dijk will all be in action when Liverpool host Chelsea on Sunday in a bid to remain top of the Premier League table by the end of the weekend.

Asked whether the Blues will be his biggest test yet as Reds boss, Slot said: ‘If you look at the league table, it is.

‘I think Manchester United is a very good team, a top club in England that has spent a lot of money to even make the team better again. Same for Chelsea in this season. Chelsea does really well.

‘If you look at the league table then they are the ones that might be our toughest opponent. But it’s not always about the league table. Sometimes it’s about the form of the day, it’s about their game plan. We had some difficulty with Wolves as well, who are bottom of the league, I think. But it is a challenge, that’s for sure.’