An outstanding start to the season for Liverpool could get overshadowed by the speculation over the long-term futures of several of their key players in the upcoming months.
Liverpool are sitting at the summit of the Premier League table with 18 points from seven league games and are looking as real contenders for the title this season.
They have also made a solid start to their Champions League campaign with two wins out of two and Arne Slot has managed to kill the scepticism around his appointment as Liverpool manager.
However, dark clouds of a potential squad upheaval are on the horizon because three of their key players – Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold – are in the final year of their respective contracts.
There is major worry around Alexander-Arnold as Liverpool do not want to lose a player of his quality at this stage of his career where his best years could be ahead of him.
Real Madrid have already been in contact with his representatives but the defender has not made a final decision yet despite not responding to offers of a new deal from the Reds.
Jason Cundy is shocked that Liverpool have allowed the contract stand-off to reach this stage
Liverpool are banking on Alexander-Arnold’s emotional connection with the club to keep him at Anfield but Cundy is shocked that we have reached this point.
He stressed that it would be a failure on Liverpool’s part if the England international leaves on a free transfer at the end of the season.
The former Chelsea star conceded that Liverpool should not be having this conversation and the situation should have been sorted out long before Alexander-Arnold entered the final eight months of his contract.
He stressed that it is Liverpool’s fault that they have allowed the situation to fester and now the player has all the power in the negotiations.
“Trent is the one that is a head-scratcher for me”, Cundy said on talkSPORT.
“He’s 25/26, to allow him to go, that is ridiculous for me. His contract is going to expire.
“How are we having this conversation, why is this conversation taking place? This conversation is obsolete, because the contract, as far as we’re aware, hasn’t taken place.
“I’m stunned, we’re in October now. If you value the player enough at your football club, they should not go into the final two years of their contract.
“As soon as you get into 18 months, question marks start, and then the player’s power becomes more and more.”
