Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has expressed skepticism regarding the likelihood of Liverpool retaining key players Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose contracts are set to expire in June 2025.
Merson, speaking on Sky Sports News, questioned why the trio has not yet secured new deals, suggesting that their prolonged contract negotiations indicate potential departures.
“I’ve been saying it for the last eight or nine months – I don’t see any of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil Van Dijk signing at Liverpool. Because I just don’t know why you wouldn’t have signed already. Why would you keep on losing £80,000 a week, every week for the last 18 months?
“I’d be quite shocked if all three stayed from here. Unless Liverpool are prepared to give them £30M, £40M in their bank account.
“If Liverpool want to keep on being successful and go again next year, they’ve got to keep Van Dijk and Salah, assuming Alexander-Arnold has already gone.”
Salah, in particular, has been a pivotal figure for Liverpool since his arrival in 2017, amassing 243 goals and currently ranking third in the club’s all-time scoring charts.
The Egyptian’s consistent performance has been instrumental in the team’s recent successes, including Premier League and Champions League titles.
Despite his significant contributions, contract renewal discussions have reportedly stalled, leading to speculation about his future at Anfield.
Reports have emerged linking Salah with a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, with Saudi sports pundit Khaled Al-Shenaif claiming that the Egyptian forward is “99 per cent an Al-Hilal player.”
Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, faces the daunting task of addressing these contractual uncertainties. The potential departure of Salah would necessitate strategic planning to fill the void left by such a prolific goal scorer.
