Michael Owen: 'This is my advice to Trent Alexander-Arnold if he wants Real Madrid transfer'

Liverpool legend Michael Owen has admitted he considers Real Madrid to be the only club in the world that can offer Trent Alexander-Arnold a "great experience" beyond Anfield.

The Reds vice-captain has already entered the final year of his current contract, with the right-back able to talk to foreign suitors from January onwards. As things stand, the 25-year-old would be within his rights to sign for another club for free upon the expiry of his agreement with Liverpool next summer.

With the contracts of skipper Virgil van Dijk and superstar forward Mohamed Salah also set to expire at the end of the current campaign, it remains to be seen whether deals will be struck to retain their services. Amid the uncertainty over Alexander-Arnold's future on Merseyside, outlets including the Independent have linked the homegrown ace with a potential switch to Real Madrid.

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Aware of the growing discourse over his situation, the player was coy on the subject earlier this month, saying: "I want to be a Liverpool player this season [as a minimum] is what I will say. I have been at the club 20 years now, I have signed four or five contract extensions and none of those have been played out in public and this one won’t be either."

Now, former Kop hero Owen has acknowledged that he can understand the star seeking a new challenge at the end of the campaign, if that hypothetical scenario is to play out. Speaking to Liverpool.com, in an interview arranged by AceOdds, the retired ex-striker said: "If Trent leaves, it's not because he hates Liverpool. When I left Liverpool, it's not because I hated Liverpool, it's because that might be something that I'll regret if I don't try it.

"That was my attitude. My advice to Trent would be 'If you're not really interested in seeing a different side of the football in terms of playing in a different country, different team, etc then stay at Liverpool all your life because you're not going to get any better anywhere else'."

The pundit is well-placed to impart advice on the subject, having left Liverpool for Los Blancos back in 2004 - after spending the whole of his career at Anfield up to that point. According to Owen, the chance to ply his trade at the Santiago Bernabéu could represent the only opportunity beyond his boyhood club that Alexander-Arnold may find hard to resist.

He continued: "The only other great experience that I could see for Trent is to play for Real Madrid. That's nothing to do with liking a team, supporting a team, whatever, that's just, do you want that life experience or are you happy playing for Liverpool all your life and it's not a bad choice is it? I mean, what a lovely position to be in if that was the case."

Owen also provided insight into the mindset that an elite player in Alexander-Arnold's boat may have about the situation as he revealed that the star's decision could come down to numerous factors. He said: "I don't know about the grass being greener. Fans think that they possibly own certain players and all the rest of it.

"But as a person going through life, sometimes somebody wants a different experience in life and it's only a short career. I don't think necessarily everybody always moves because they think it will be better elsewhere but to have an experience in life."

The ex-Anfield stalwart added: "Don't get me wrong, some people live in the same house all their life but some people like to move into a different area or a different country or whatever. It's a life experience."