Former Liverpool striker, John Aldridge has told the Liverpool hierarchy to take immediate action in securing the futures of four pivotal players at Anfield.
Among these players are Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, and Mo Salah, whose current contracts are set to expire in June 2025.
Alexander-Arnold has been reportedly drawing interest from Real Madrid. Meanwhile, Alisson Becker’s contract extends until 2027, according to Transfermarkt.
Aldridge emphasised the urgency of the situation in his latest column for the Liverpool Echo. He stated that it is imperative for the club to act swiftly in ensuring the retention of these players.
Furthermore, Aldridge stressed the importance of the incoming manager’s willingness to work with this quartet.
He stated that any potential successor to Jurgen Klopp must demonstrate a desire to build around these key figures, indicating that failure to do so would be a sign of unsuitability for the role.
Aldridge wrote: “A new manager comes in, they need to sort those contracts out as soon as possible to make sure these players are part of his plans.
“You don’t want to, all of a sudden, lose the manager and then lose four world class players. It’s as easy as that. You tie them down or you do whatever needs doing.
“You get the manager in place, you see the structure he wants. As soon as he says those players are good, you tie them down. I can understand why they have waited, but I would have tied them down before the manager came in.
“If a new manager comes in and doesn’t want Trent Alexander-Arnold, you don’t want the manager. A manager comes in and doesn’t want Alisson, then you don’t want the manager. If he doesn’t want them four players then you don’t want the manager in my opinion!
“It’s awkward for the owners, but they’re starting things in place with the structure now. But they need to sort out things with these players as soon as possible because we’ve got enough on our plate to replace the best manager in football.
“We need to sort that out ASAP. The owners need to sort it out. I don’t know what the plan is but it needs looking into.”
It’s nearly inconceivable to envision that whoever Liverpool appoint as their next manager would not prioritise retaining Trent, Salah, Van Dijk, and Alisson, who currently constitute 80% of Klopp’s leadership cadre at Anfield (in addition to Andy Robertson).
Aldridge’s eagerness for the trio, whose contracts are nearing expiration, to have their futures resolved promptly is understandable, as each month passing without resolution weakens the club’s bargaining position.
Losing one of their most esteemed managers this summer would be a significant setback for the Reds, without the added risk of several key players departing simultaneously.
It’s reported that CEO of Football Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes are both eager to address Trent’s future as a top priority (Graeme Bailey, HITC), so resolution on that front should be forthcoming, even as they intensify their search for Klopp’s successor.
The next couple of months could prove decisive for Liverpool, both on and off the field, with two trophies still within reach and several contract negotiations looming, alongside the monumental decision regarding the club’s next manager.
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