Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has , telling them to “grow up”.

looks to be edging ever closer to a move to Spain, with . With his contract at Anfield expiring in the summer, the right-back has been free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs since January.

The deal is not yet confirmed on either Liverpool or Real’s side, but it does seem to be reaching an inevitable conclusion. That places even more pressure on the Reds to secure new deals for and , who are also out of contract at the end of the season.

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News of Alexander-Arnold’s expected exit . Many have begun turning against the academy graduate, having been left unhappy with the lack of communication on his part, as well as the prospect of him leaving his boyhood club for nothing.

Jordan though, who has become an outspoken pundit since his days as a club chief, has hit out against that reaction.

“I’m never one that aligns with players,” Jordan told . “In fact, I’m the polar opposite, so the fact I’m aligning with Trent Alexander-Arnold isn’t me being a contrarian.

“Everyone that criticizes a choice, they very rarely have that choice themselves. In this instance, Trent Alexander-Arnold has made a choice.

“Has he performed admirably for Liverpool during the time he’s been there? Has he ever let this club down? Is he entitled to live his life? Or does he have to do precisely what a Liverpool fan thinks he should – until Liverpool want him no more and discard him when they’re finished with him?

“He’s performed admirably for Liverpool and the only challenge is, should he have gone for a fee? Well, okay, how much did Liverpool pay for him?”

When it was put to him by the host that Liverpool fans could be hurt by Alexander-Arnold’s exit, Jordan responded: “Well, they should grow up. He gave them significant performances. I don’t think he’s hoodwinked Liverpool.

“I don’t think he’s done the Sol Campbell trick of indicating to the club that he’s going to sign and then run across town to join the biggest rivals.”

Liverpool.com says: Of course Liverpool fans are going to be hurt by Alexander-Arnold’s departure. And in fact, it’s not even the fact that he’s leaving for free that is a sore spot, it’s the absolute silence he has maintained over these past few months.

For the vice-captain of the club to do that is just not a good look, especially when he’s spoken about how much he loves Liverpool in the past. He’s entitled to do whatever he wants in his career, of course, but the way he’s gone about this leaves a bitter taste.