Liverpool sit at the summit of the Premier League table but there is an underlying fear at Anfield of imminent upheaval next summer. The Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah contract sagas have continued to hit the headlines on Merseyside. Liverpool fans are desperate for some clarity on the futures of these three stalwarts but it is unclear if or when new contracts will be sorted out for the trio.
Arne Slot has managed to keep everything serene on the pitch and Liverpool have emerged as the favourites to win the Premier League this season ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal. However, the fans are dreading the potential nightmare of watching three of their most important players leave on a free transfer next summer.
Liverpool are insistent that the club are in negotiations with the trio and the club remain confident that new deals will be agreed upon with their representatives. However, there is an increasing likelihood that all three players will not be lining up for Liverpool on the opening day of the 2025/26 season.
The Reds have maintained that they want to hold on to all three players and they are pushing to negotiate new deals with the trio. However, it is almost certain that Richard Hughes and the Liverpool hierarchy would have a clear preference on who they are desperate to keep and who they would not mind losing if push comes to shove.
I am trying to ascertain how Liverpool are trying to prioritise the contract talks with the three Reds.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contract is the priority for Liverpool
The youngest of the three, Liverpool are certainly prioritising holding on to the right-back. It is clear why Liverpool are desperate to keep him given he is just 26 and has been touted as a future captain at Anfield. Alexander-Arnold’s peak years are ahead of him and losing him would be a PR disaster for the club as he is a product of the club academy and a Liverpool fan through and through.
Can you name the team Liverpool sold these players to?
The club’s desperation is clear from the fact that they have offered him a contract that would make him the highest-paid player in the Premier League. Liverpool hope that their financial commitment will show how serious they are about keeping him and would help them see off interest from Real Madrid to keep him at Anfield for years to come.
The Mo Salah contract is next in line
Salah will go down as one of the greatest players to wear the Liverpool shirt. He is a modern great at Anfield and is idolised by the Kop but the 32-year-old forward will be out of contract at the end of the season. He wants to stay at Anfield and Liverpool want to keep him but there is no agreement over a new deal.
A standoff has ensued between the two sides as Salah is demanding a three-year contract, which Liverpool are reluctant to offer. The player believes that there is little in his performances to suggest that his level will drop any time soon while Liverpool are keen to ensure that they don’t get trapped in a long and expensive contract with an ageing star. However, there is an expectation that the two sides will find a middle ground and Salah will stay at Anfield, which continues to be his preference.
Virgil van Dijk is almost certain to sign a new deal
Van Dijk’s name being last on the list is not a reflection of his importance to the team. Arne Slot has insisted that the Dutchman remains the real leader of the club, on and off the pitch. The reason he is at the end of his list is because Liverpool are said to have made real progress in talks over a new deal with his representatives.
There is a broad agreement over the length of his contract and the proposed wages and he is now almost certain to sign a new contract with the club. Van Dijk had shown little inclination that he was ever looking to leave Liverpool and the club were always confident of holding on to him. The Dutchman has more or less given his consent to a new deal and will lead the team out again next season.
