Transfer dilemma for Liverpool as star men weigh up futures

Sitting atop both the Premier League and Champions League tables, Liverpool’s aspirations for a title this season are very promising. They look likely to add multiple trophies to their cabinet, but with the contracts of key players Mohamed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold expiring this summer, it’s their futures, rather than any matters on the pitch, that Liverpool may need to be more concerned with.

The trio have been ubiquitous in the club’s imposing start under new manager Arne Slot. Previously, they were at the heart of Klopp’s success, winning the club’s sixth Champions League in 2020, and the Premier League a year later. Liverpool fans will be hoping that they can contribute to the birth of a Slot dynasty, but without contract renewals in place, the Kop faithful may be left disappointed. The three desire security, and if Liverpool refuse, they may be forced to find it elsewhere.

Trent could follow the path trodden by the likes of club legends Xabi Alonso, Steve McManaman and Michael Owen

Alexander-Arnold faces a difficult decision following a formal approach from Real Madrid, which Liverpool have tried to stifle by offering a new five-year contract. The right back joined Liverpool’s academy in 2004, and has gone on to play 356 games for the Reds, providing 89 assists. The homegrown talent took the captain’s armband in the club’s recent FA cup tie against Accrington Stanley, where he found his name on the scoresheet.

Trent could follow the path trodden by the likes of club legends Xabi Alonso, Steve McManaman and Michael Owen in cutting a move abroad. But for the Merseyside-born starlet, to leave Liverpool Football Club would mean leaving home: an issue which his ‘idol’, Steven Gerrard, also faced during his time at the club. Gerrard chose to stay and wrote his name into Liverpool history; as still could Trent.

In the situations of Mohamed Salah and Virgil Van Dijk, slightly more optimism can be afforded. Reports from De Telegraaf in the Netherlands suggest that Liverpool are willing to offer serious money to keep hold of their skipper. For Liverpool fans, the signing of Van Dijk in January of 2018 marked the beginning of a groundbreaking new era. He’s been at the heart of their defence ever since, and became the club’s captain in the Summer of 2023. It’s hard to imagine anyone matching his capabilities in that role. As captain, Van Dijk has only lifted the EFL Cup, and fans will hope that he sticks around to add much more silverware to his name.

To say goodbye to Mohamed Salah would be to say goodbye to Liverpool’s top goalscorer within the Premier League era

The club’s inability to renew Salah’s contract is growing ever more questionable. Of the 47 goals which Liverpool have scored in the Premier League this season, the Egyptian King has either scored or assisted 66% of them. He’s on track for his best season ever after notching 31 goal contributions so far this season, only needing 11 more to catch the record set in his debut campaign for the Reds.

To say goodbye to Mohamed Salah would be to say goodbye to Liverpool’s top goalscorer within the Premier League era, with his haul of 175 goals matching the great Thierry Henry. It is unclear why the club would choose to offload Salah, and equally uncertain how they could replace such a talisman. At just 32, it feels as though the Anfield favourite is still firmly within his prime years.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Salah remains stubbornly assured that this will be his ‘last season at the club’, and insists his primary objective is to have an ‘unbelievable season’. With Liverpool still fighting on all four fronts, and Mohamed Salah as the current top scorer and assister in the Premier League, this goal looks highly achievable. As the rumour mill around contract negotiations rumbles on, Liverpool fans can only hope that this does not distract the team from what has the potential to be a historical campaign.