Liverpool have sleepwalked into a situation whereby three of their key players are out of contract in a year’s time.
The Reds have become used to losing big players on free transfers over the years. And it looks like it could well happen again.
But while the likes of Gini Wijnaldum, Roberto Firmino and James Milner were arguably all over hill when they left, the current trio Liverpool are sweating over certainly aren’t.
Virgil van Dijk is the club captain and one of the very best players in the Liverpool squad. Then there’s Mohamed Salah who is legitimately one of the greatest in the club’s history.
Also running down the clock is academy graduate and vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold. Liverpool feel unlikely to give contracts to all three, and journalist Graeme Bailey has now explained which player is the biggest priority for the Reds.
Liverpool hoping to tie up Trent Alexander-Arnold deal
As Premier League legend Alan Shearer recently observed, Liverpool are now in a ‘dangerous’ situation with this trio of players.
All three will be crucial to Arne Slot as he looks to continue Jurgen Klopp’s legacy at Anfield.
However, you can understand in some respects why FSG may be hesitant to hand both Salah and Van Dijk new contracts.
Both are comfortably into their thirties and could decline during the course of another bumper deal. There is a certain risk attached.
READ MORE: Conor Coady explains why Trent Alexander-Arnold may not have signed a new contract at Liverpool yet
For Alexander-Arnold though, there is no such gamble. The Scouser is still only 25 and yet to even reach his true prime. As a result, Liverpool should be trying all they can to keep Trent.
Thankfully, journalist Bailey has exclusively told Rousing The Kop that the Reds are trying to tie things up with Alexander-Arnold as soon as possible.
“There’s a lot to go through with the contracts. Trent Alexander-Arnold is the number one, they want to get him done before the start of the season, that’s ongoing,” says the reporter.
“Luis Diaz wants a new deal. Whether he gets that before the start of the season, we don’t know. Then obviously there’s Virgil van Dijk and the Mohamed Salah situation as well, which is yet to kick off. Trent’s the main one there, they want that doing as soon as they can really.”
Liverpool could yet pay for Alexander-Arnold mistake
It seems unbelievable that Liverpool have allowed Alexander-Arnold to virtually enter the last 12 months of his deal.
While they usually have a long-term plan in terms of contracts, this really feels like a huge mistake from the Liverpool owners.
There is reported interest from Real Madrid in Alexander-Arnold and that should be enough to make Liverpool nervous.
When the Spanish giants come in for a player, they’re not used to being told no. As their long and ultimately successful pursuit of Kylian Mbappe has underlined, they almost always get their man.
Although he’s living out his dream of playing for his boyhood club, it should not be taken for granted that Alexander-Arnold will stay at Anfield.
Liverpool need to do absolutely everything possible to ensure this matter is put to bed this summer. If not, then the reality of Trent leaving for nothing in 2025 will start to become much more likely.