Liverpool are still scrambling to find a solution to the Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah contract sagas as the trio edge closer to the window where they will be free to discuss pre-contracts with clubs outside England.
The Merseyside giants are facing the real threat of watching some of their modern greats leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Virgil van Dijk is closest to agreeing on a new contract with the club but there is still no agreement and the club captain has yet to agree to sign on the dotted lines.
Mohamed Salah is adamant about getting a three-year deal before agreeing to sign a new contract and Trent Alexander-Arnold is nowhere close to signing on fresh terms amidst the temptation of joining Real Madrid on a free transfer next summer.
Liverpool are still in negotiations with the representatives of the trio but there is a clear sign that the club are currently struggling to finalise terms of a new deal with the three players.
Journalist insists the club can’t overpay for the three players
The Daily Telegraph’s Chris Bascombe has outlined the issues Liverpool are facing in the negotiations with the three players.
While the fans are clamouring for the club to sign up the three stalwarts on new deals, he stressed Liverpool can’t afford to overstretch in the talks.
He insisted that Liverpool are not in a position to offer whatever the three stars want as it would set a bad precedent and complicate any future squad-building and negotiations over new deals with younger players.
Can you name the team Liverpool sold these players to?
Bascombe believes Liverpool’s insistence on being financially prudent is important as overpaying for Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold and Salah could limit their spending power on other players.
“If Liverpool are to increase the salary ceiling of their oldest players beyond £20 million a year while needing to renew the terms of players in their early and mid-20s to market value, where is the money coming from?”, he wrote.
“Or perhaps more pertinently, what will be the knock-on impact? How much will be left for future squad rebuilding if those heading towards their mid-30s suddenly drop off and can no longer deliver over 60 matches a season?
“The unpalatable truth is while Liverpool obviously want to keep Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold, they operate in a world in which they cannot afford to give all three of their soon-to-be-out-of-contract stars ‘whatever they want’ without veering from a successful financial plan.
“Cautious voices will warn of a risk in overstretching resources and limiting the funds required to bid for those in the 20-26 age bracket, which has always been the preferred profile.”
