Liverpool have to resolve overlooked contract dilemma after Mohamed Salah saga

In just 42 days Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold will all be free to discuss pre-contract agreements with overseas clubs as they enter the final six months of their Liverpool deals. While talks with the trio are said to be ongoing, the Reds are clearly running out of time before that January 1 deadline.

Admittedly, even if their futures remain unresolved in the new year, there would still be nothing to stop Liverpool from agreeing extensions with three of their star players. But negotiations would be complicated somewhat by rival clubs then being free to come to the table.

Understandably, the futures of Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold are an ongoing hot topic of conversation for those of a Reds persuasion.

READ MORE: Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk injury complaints confirmed as Arsenal handed title boost

READ MORE: I was surprised by Liverpool transfer - I don't understand it as he's not the type they want

During this period of success under Fenway Sports Group, where Liverpool have won every major prize, whenever a player has entered the final year of his contract, it has predominantly seen them move on.

The only exceptions are veterans James Milner and Adrian, as well as Divock Origi after his Champions League heroics of 2019 earned him an extension.

Since 2018, Emre Can, Daniel Sturridge, Alberto Moreno, Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne, Gini Wijnaldum, Origi, Milner, Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adrian, Joel Matip and Thiago Alcantara have all left the Reds when their contracts expired.

While looming exits were obvious for some, the majority navigated a year of public uncertainty before their futures were resolved.

Admittedly, there is a difference between any of the aforementioned names and Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold - Liverpool’s three current out-of-contract stars remain guaranteed starters at Anfield.

While history has looked favourably on the Reds’ decisions to not renew the contracts of their previous departees, it would be a gamble if they were to lose three key lieutenants at once.

Yet the uncertainty regarding the futures of Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold is perhaps stealing attention away from further contract sagas that could be about to unfold at Anfield - with no-one yet talking about them as a result.

While they might now be coming up to the final six month deadline, historically alarm bells started to ring when a player would have two years left to run on their existing deal.

Another three senior Liverpool players are currently scheduled to enter the final 12 months of their contracts next summer, while a further nine players’ current deals expire in 2027.

Andy Robertson, Caoimhin Kelleher and Ibrahima Konate will all be out of contract in 2026. And while the Reds are in talks with the Frenchman’s camp, the futures of the Scotland and Ireland internationals are more uncertain.

Liverpool have been linked with a number of left-backs in recent months with it clear, even if Robertson pens an extension, the Reds will need a long-term replacement for him sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile, Kelleher has been open about his desire to move on and be a first-choice goalkeeper elsewhere, with Liverpool rejecting bids from Nottingham Forest both in August and last January. While such offers were considerably under their asking-price, the Irishman’s market-value will only decline in the months ahead as he enters the final year of his contract.

Elsewhere, according to Transfermarkt, Alisson Becker, Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo, Luis Diaz, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Diogo Jota, Kostas Tsimikas and Conor Bradley are all set to be out of contract in 2027.

It would perhaps be a surprise to see the already 31-year-old Endo offered an extension, especially when he is already being linked with a move away and was the subject of a rejected bid from Marseille last summer.

Meanwhile, the imminent arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia next year has already prompted speculation regarding Alisson’s own long-term future. And uncertainty regarding Gomez’s own future continues after he saw a move to Newcastle United collapse last summer.

But new deals for the likes of Jones, Elliott and Bradley at least, as three of the younger members of Slot’s first team squad, will perhaps start to come under consideration once they enter the final two years of their existing deals.

Liverpool already have three rather glaring contract sagas to resolve in the weeks and months ahead. But regardless of the outcome, that is only the beginning with only six of Slot’s current senior ranks committed to the club beyond 2027.