Liverpool enter 48-day transfer countdown amid worrying silence surrounding Reds trio
Liverpool currently risk losing Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold on free transfers at the end of the season with the trio yet to come to agreements over a new deal
by David Anderson · The MirrorIt’s becoming the elephant in the room at Liverpool.
Arne Slot has made a superb start to life at Anfield, seamlessly succeeding Jurgen Klopp, to guide Liverpool to the top of the Premier League and the Champions League. He has won 15 of his first 17 games, drawing one and losing just the once, as the Reds have swept all before them at home and in Europe.
But as great as everything is at Liverpool, it could all come crashing down if they don’t agree new deals with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold. The trio will be free to speak to foreign clubs in just 48 days and the silence over their futures from Anfield is deafening.
Liverpool took the decision early on not to get involved in regular updates to prevent the whole affair from becoming a soap opera. That’s perfectly understandable, but in the absence of any official news, the vacuum is being filled with speculation.
Salah’s agent Ramy Abbas Issa has reacted to the plethora of stories about the Egyptian star by saying on social media t hat the so-called sources close to the player do not have a clue. Issa said nothing else, leaving Liverpool fans increasingly worried about what is going to happen.
Salah is in bang in form and he is the first player in Europe’s top-five leagues to hit 10 goals and 10 assists this season. It would cost Liverpool at least £100million to replace him in today’s inflated transfer market which begs the question why can they not agree new terms?
The fans’ feelings were summed up by a banner of Salah which read ‘FSG. He fires a bow, now give him his dough’. Salah is reportedly on £350,000-a-week at Anfield and even though he will be 33, handing him a two-year deal seems a no-brainer.
His replacement would want a fat salary to go with his huge transfer fee so he would only cost more. Salah wants to stay and never underestimate the size of his ego.
He loves being Liverpool’s main man and starring in the Premier League and Champions League. He has not given up hope of winning the Ballon d’Or and knows succeeding with Liverpool is his best chance.
Van Dijk should be the easiest negotiation and although he will be 34 in July, his performance levels are still ridiculously high. He is the leader any team needs, on and off the pitch, and his value to Liverpool is immeasurable. The Netherlands star loves being captain of Liverpool and does not want to leave.
The tricky one could be Alexander-Arnold and he says trophies will be the determining factor in his future. One argument is that having won everything at Liverpool, he will want to go to Real Madrid where he can join up with his pal Jude Bellingham and win La Liga and Champions Leagues.
But Slot is showing Alexander-Arnold he is capable of overseeing a new era of silverware at Anfield and he clearly has much to ponder.
The pressure is growing on Liverpool and if they re-sign all three, it will be the best bit of brinkmanship ever. But lose one, or even two, and it will puncture the optimism Slot has generated.
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