Former Liverpool midfielder Vladimir Smicer has hailed the club’s decision to sign up Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah to new two-year deals, insisting they play like 28-year-olds.
Tuttomercatoweb cover comments from the former Liverpool man today after a big week of contract renewals at Anfield.
Salah ended speculation about his future by signing a two-year deal last week, ending months of worry that he could be set to depart this summer.
Van Dijk has now done the same, with Liverpool announcing a new two-year deal for their captain today to end the speculation about his future.
Some have raised questions about the decision from Liverpool, with it believed that both players have secured deals close to their previous terms, which already, unsurprisingly, had them among the highest earners at the squad.
That is based on the fact that Salah is now 32 and Van Dijk is 33, but Smicer insists that isn’t relevant for these two players.
“It’s true, they are not very young, but you know every year they are at Liverpool they show their consistency,” he said.
“Every time they play you can see that the team benefits from their presence on the pitch. And they are really consistent. The important thing is that they are physically intact. Salah looks like he is 28 years old.
“He is in great shape. He still plays as he knows how and I think he can easily play at least another two years at this level, as well as Virgil. I am happy with this news of their renewals. Liverpool obviously have to think about the future, but starting again by building the team around them I think is a great choice.”
Arne Slot can now plan ahead with the two players firmly in his plans as he looks to build on a superb first year at Anfield.
The Reds are due to win the Premier League at a canter, sitting 13 points clear at the top of the table with six games left to play.
Few had predicted they would ever be in such a position after Jurgen Klopp’s departure last year and Smicer believes Slot deserves praise.
“Slot is doing a huge job at Liverpool,” he added.
“No one could be sure that he would do well after Klopp, it was a difficult position for him last summer. It was thought that he could have difficulties, instead we will win the Premier League in a fantastic way.”
