Glen Johnson has poured cold water on any Liverpool move for Trent Alexander-Arnold, saying he would not bring the right-back back to Liverpool and questioning whether supporters would want the deal at all. Johnson's argument is as much about money as sentiment, because Real Madrid paid Liverpool €10million (£8.5m) to release him early after his contract was due to expire in June 2025.
Johnson's case against a buy-back
Speaking to teamtalk.com, Johnson said: "I’m not sure how the fans would receive that move." He added: "I can’t imagine they’d be too happy with it, to be honest, especially if Liverpool had to pay a fee for a local lad who left the club for free twelve months ago."
The fee point is the sharpest part of his argument. Liverpool let Alexander-Arnold go on 30 May 2025, and Johnson's view is that paying again for a player who left without a transfer fee would sit badly with the fanbase.
He also argued that the football has dipped. "He’s been a shadow of himself on the pitch since he left Liverpool," Johnson said, before adding that he would not re-sign him if he was making the decisions at the club.
Liverpool's wider dilemma
The temptation to reopen the conversation exists because Liverpool have had to improvise at right-back. Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones both played there last season, while Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley both suffered injuries last season. Bradley is recovering from knee surgery and aiming to return in the coming months.
Even so, the case for a reunion is thin. Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League in 2025 and third in the 2025 UEFA Champions League table, which does not point to a squad that should be spending heavily on an emotional return.
Madrid's position also cuts across the idea that this is a simple exit route. Spanish newspaper AS reported on 8 August that Jose Mourinho wants Madrid to keep Alexander-Arnold, and another line from the reporting said it is hard to see any return happening while that remains the view in Spain. Johnson can argue that a move back would be poor value, but the more immediate reality is that Madrid do not look ready to make the decision easy for Liverpool.
If anything changes, it will have to start with Real Madrid's stance, not Johnson's. For now, the strongest reading is that Liverpool should stay out of the race and let the reunion talk fade on its own.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
