Report has suggested that when Michael Edwards resumes control of the senior operations at Liverpool, it’s improbable that Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk will be offered extended contracts.
The club, aiming to bring back the former Anfield sporting director, are set to elevate him to a higher-ranking position than before. If negotiations are successful, as anticipated, this development will significantly impact the club’s summer activities, particularly discussions regarding contracts with key players.
Mohamed Salah, who will be turning 32 in June, and Virgil van Dijk, who will be 33 the following month, are set to see their contracts expire in the summer of 2025. It’s anticipated that they will receive new contract offers once the current season concludes.
Andrew Robertson, who will turn 30 next March, is slated to be out of contract in the summer of 2026.
Additionally, Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip, both aged 32, will see their contracts expire at the end of the season. Backup goalkeeper Adrian, aged 37, is also nearing the end of his deal in the coming months.
According to Football Insider, one point of difference between Michael Edwards, during his first tenure at the club, and Jurgen Klopp pertained to the duration of contracts offered to players in their early 30s.
Klopp has a well-known penchant for showing loyalty to key players and advocating for long-term contracts, even for those entering the twilight of their careers. For instance, Jordan Henderson was surprisingly handed a four-year contract in 2021 at the age of 31.
It is understood that Edwards advocated for shorter deals, potentially indicating that stars like Salah, Van Dijk, and Robertson may not be offered contracts as lengthy as four years, or possibly even three-year deals with top-tier salaries.
With the new hierarchy now in place, Edwards is poised to wield even more influence than during his previous stint, while the manager’s authority may be diminished.
In a recent report, it was disclosed that Liverpool are in advanced negotiations to appoint Richard Hughes as their sporting director.
On Friday night, it surfaced that Liverpool are nearing a deal with Edwards after he turned down their first offer.
Meanwhile, Liverpool fans are in awe as a remarkable deal is on the verge of completion – described as “basically confirmed” and expected to reverberate through the Premier League.
In other Liverpool news, Jurgen Klopp Drops Verdict on Trent Alexander-Arnold Man City Comment That Got Haaland Riled