Liverpool’s next manager will likely prioritise resolving the futures of key trio Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, and Mohamed Salah during the summer, as their contracts all expire in 2025. This leaves the Reds potentially facing the prospect of losing all three players simultaneously.
Recently, there have been reports linking Alexander-Arnold with a potential transfer to Real Madrid. According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid have been keeping an eye on the defender’s contract situation, though no discussions have been held between Liverpool and Alexander-Arnold’s representatives regarding an extension.
Alexander-Arnold signed his current contract in 2021 and has since become a crucial player under Jurgen Klopp’s management.
Similarly, both Van Dijk and Salah hold significant importance to Liverpool. Van Dijk, the Dutch defender, hinted at uncertainty regarding his future following Klopp’s departure, though he swiftly clarified that this did not necessarily indicate an imminent departure from Anfield.
Van Dijk who is set to celebrate his 34th birthday in the upcoming summer coinciding with the expiration of his contract, may see a potential decline in his performance, prompting Liverpool to strategise for the future of their defensive lineup before determining their offer to the veteran center-back.
Concurrently, Saudi Arabian clubs are poised to reignite their interest in Salah during the forthcoming summer transfer window.
Despite Liverpool rebuffing record-breaking bids for the winger last year, their negotiating leverage may diminish with only a year remaining on his current contract.
With the option for players to engage in discussions regarding pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs once their contract enters its final year, a scenario arises wherein, for instance, Alexander-Arnold could opt for a free transfer to Real Madrid if Liverpool fail to secure him to a new deal within the next nine months.
Former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher believes Alexander-Arnold’s situation is the club’s top concern:
“Virgil van Dijk is not the biggest worry and neither is Mo Salah. It’s Trent Alexander-Arnold,” Carragher told the Stick To Football Podcast earlier this year.
“Those three players have 18 months to go. In 18 months Salah and Van Dijk will be 34 or 35. So this thing about we could lose Van Dijk, well it might actually be the right decision in 18 months.
“Trent Alexander-Arnold is the one you have almost got to build this team around for a new manager. I think Van Dijk and Salah in 12 months’ time, the club will probably look at that and go, ‘You have six months to go, how are you feeling as a player?’.
“You would want to keep them if they are playing as they are right now, but 18 months is a long time in football.”
Liverpool has not yet named Klopp’s replacement. Xabi Alonso, a former midfielder, is the frontrunner for the position, although the Bayer Leverkusen tactician is also drawing interest from Bayern Munich.
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