The 2024/25 season is well underway on Merseyside and Liverpool has certainly hit the ground running. New manager Arne Slot has picked up where outgoing maverick German boss Jurgen Klopp left off. The Dutchman has orchestrated seven wins from his first eight games in charge, including a 3-0 away victory against rivals Manchester United as well as a 3-1 win on the road at AC Milan in the Reds’ first UEFA Champions League game of the new campaign.
Following their bright start to the season, the bookies have sat up and taken notice. Online soccer betting odds have slashed prices on the Merseyside’s winning the title this term down to +400, narrowly behind favorites Arsenal (+130) and reigning champions Manchester City (+180). Whether Liverpool can take the fight to the top two remains to be seen, but one thing that is certain is that three of the club’s biggest stars will be out of contract at the culmination of the current campaign.
Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all set to exit the club at the end of the 2024/25 season should they not pen a new deal. So, is there any chance that any of them remain? Or should the Anfield faithful enjoy what little time they have left with their potentially outgoing heroes?
Virgil van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk was a signing that took Liverpool to the next level. When the Reds forked out some £75m to secure the Dutchman’s services from Southampton in the winter of 2018, plenty of eyebrows were raised. However, the former Celtic defender completely revolutionized the backline at Anfield, immediately leading the club to back-to-back UEFA Champions League finals – winning the second – before being a crucial component of the club’s first Premier League title success in 30 years in 2020.
The 33-year-old has been a pillar of strength for almost seven years now, and his leadership both on and off the field remains invaluable. Recently, the club’s instrumental captain openly expressed his desire to continue his journey at Anfield, emphasizing his role as a leader for both club and country. He has stated his intention to stay at Liverpool for at least the next two years, pending a contract extension that aligns with his ambitions.
However, at the age of 33, it remains to be seen whether the powers that be within the club would be willing to offer the former Groningen youngster a bumper new deal that would take him through until the age of 36. That may be why a formal contract offer remains absent, but despite that, Van Dijk’s confidence in securing a new deal with the club underscores his commitment to Anfield. His situation seems to be the most stable among the trio, largely due to his clear communication of intent to remain in Merseyside.
Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah’s situation at Liverpool presents a more complex picture. Earlier this year, he stated in an interview that it was his “last year” at Anfield. Whether that was referring to the lack of a contract extension being signed or his intentions to leave the club was uncertain due to a language barrier, but it was certainly telling of the uncertainty surrounding the future of Anfield’s Egyptian King.
While the former Roma man remains an irreplaceable figure on the pitch, his future is something that is up for debate. Despite Salah’s consistent performance and importance to the team, Liverpool has yet to engage in contract negotiations with him. He is now 32 years of age and while he seems to still be at the peak of his powers, Slot and the transfer committee at Anfield may be wondering how long that will remain the case, and when his skills will begin to wane.
The delay has fueled speculation about Salah’s potential exit from Merseyside, with rumours suggesting that a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia might be on the horizon. The Egypt international is reportedly seeking a substantial wage increase to the £300,000 per week he already earns, and that could pose a challenge for Liverpool on numerous fronts. One, he is already the club’s top earner, and two, how smart is it to offer a pay increase to a player whose ability could fade in the not-so-distant future?
Of course, every Red would prefer that the ex-Chelsea man would remain at Anfield. Salah has netted a whopping 216 goals in 357 appearances for the club, becoming the main man in their runs to three UEFA Champions League finals and that Premier League success four and a half years ago. He has broken a plethora of records for the club, including becoming the club’s record scorer in the English top flight.
But despite that, now could be the perfect time to part ways. Salah will certainly secure the pay rise he seeks in the Arabian Gulf, while new manager Slot would be able to bring in plenty of his players with the money freed up from offloading the Egyptian from Liverpool’s books.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold embodies Liverpool’s future, being both a product of the club’s academy and a key player entering his prime. His contract negotiations are ongoing, with the marauding fullback seeking assurances from the club regarding their continued ambition to challenge for trophies. He is a boyhood Reds fan, but his desire to compete at the highest level is something that he expects his club to match.
Adding complexity to his situation is interest from Real Madrid, a club known for attracting top talents. While Alexander-Arnold remains committed to Liverpool, the allure of a move to a European giant cannot be dismissed. With Three Lions teammates already at the Bernabeu, a move to the Spanish capital may be too much of an opportunity to turn down.
