Liverpool are yet to sign Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk or Trent Alexander-Arnold to new contracts as they don’t see the value of doing so for the next two to five years.
That’s according to Jamie Carragher, who has discussed the situation with SportBILD today as it continues to rumble on.
Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold are all set to leave Liverpool in the summer as they are yet to agree extensions to their contracts.
Talks have been ongoing with the three players all season, but Liverpool are yet to agree new terms with them, despite the trio continuing to be key players as Arne Slot’s side head towards the Premier League title.
Indeed, Alexander-Arnold is now widely expected to leave, with a report this week stating that Real Madrid consider his signing as a formality rather than a hope.
Salah and Van Dijk have not been linked with other clubs quite as extensively, with the Egyptian continuing to bat off questions about his future as he continues to be asked.
For most there is no question that all three should be signed up, but Carragher believes Liverpool are looking at the matter from a financial point of view.
“Liverpool always look closely at what players are worth,” he said.
“They could probably afford all three. But the club doesn’t see the value in the next two to five years. I trust the club management on that. Over the past ten years, they have been right more often than wrong.
“But if all three were to leave the club, the management would have to face tough questions. Then Liverpool would not be in a good position for next season. The pressure on their successors would be huge. I think Salah and van Dijk will stay; Alexander-Arnold will go.”
Despite the issues over the contracts of that trio, matters are very calm at Liverpool at this moment in time as Slot leads them forward.
The Dutchman arrived in the summer to replace Jurgen Klopp and has fitted in seamlessly, adapting the squad he inherited rather than going for an overhaul.
Before his arrival it had seemed like Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso was the chosen man following the German side’s impressive first season under him last year.
Alonso instead decided to remain in Leverkusen, but Carragher would like to see his former teammate on the Anfield touchline at some point.
“I would love him to coach Liverpool one day,” he added.
“He would fit in very well because of his time as a player. However, I wonder whether his system with a back three or back five would suit Liverpool. Liverpool haven’t played like that for a long time. That was probably one of the reasons why they haven’t brought him in yet.
“They looked at him and Rúben Amorim (then Sporting, now Manchester United). But they didn’t really fit in with the players they had. That’s why they chose Arne Slot, who is more similar to Jürgen Klopp. We are currently very happy with Slot!”
