Jurgen Klopp has said he hopes Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah stay at Liverpool beyond this season amid the players’ ongoing contract uncertainty.

The trio’s deals are set to expire at the end of the season and, despite months of negotiations, new terms have not yet been agreed with the club. The ongoing saga has dominated headlines for months, even during the January transfer market.

Klopp, of course, knows all three players well given he signed Van Dijk and Salah at Liverpool, and handed Alexander-Arnold his first appearance. Under his watch, the players all became among the world’s best in their positions. For that reason, the ex-Liverpool boss was asked on Tuesday about their respective futures, starting with Salah.

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“I hope he [Salah] stays,” said the 57-year-old. “He is the biggest striker Liverpool has had in modern times. Obviously there were other good strikers.

“Fantastic player, fantastic human being. Outstanding athlete. The best ambassador your country could have, fantastic in all departments. So I hope he stays at Liverpool.”

Klopp was speaking during his unveiling as Red Bull's new Head of Global Soccer, a role that will see him work across the organisation’s network of clubs. Despite attending Paris FC’s match against Amiens at the weekend, the German’s press conference was his first public appearance.

Later in the Q&A session, Klopp was then asked about Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk. “I am so happy that I am not in charge of that situation and have to answer these questions. Why should I do that now? So, Good luck. From my point of view I would love all of them to extend their contracts. But I don’t know. They haven’t told me. I could text them now and ask.”

On Liverpool’s season so far, Klopp added: “I’m so happy that they do so well. That was what I was hoping for. I am in contact with some people, Arne, texting, the players, texting. There is not a 0.01 percentage that thinks I should still be there.

"Not at all. I am more than happy not to be there because they are doing so well. It’s great. I wish them all the best and I watch as many games as I can."