Liverpool trudge further into January with limited progress made on new contracts for stars Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold. The trio could all sign pre-contracts with new clubs at any point.

The Reds' lead atop the Premier League table was sliced to four points (with a game in hand) after Arsenal claimed all three points in the North London derby against Tottenham on Wednesday.

Liverpool could strengthen this winter, with the club reportedly sniffing around left-back options to replace a declining Andy Robertson. The Reds may be forced to chase further signings should one of the "contract big three" elect to sign a deal elsewhere.

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Here is the Liverpool.com verdict on the transfer gossip to emerge around the Reds today, featuring news regarding two of the Reds' three out-of-contract stars and a new left-back option.

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Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Saudi reporter Khalid Quinn told Mega FM that Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have reached a preliminary agreement with Saudi club Al Hilal.

"There are preliminary agreements between Salah and Al Hilal, but final agreements have yet to be reached, which may happen shortly," Quinn said.

Salah has scored 18 goals and 13 assists in the league for the first-place Reds in what's shaping up to be a career season. Van Dijk has captained the side in each of Liverpool's first 20 league games of the season.

Liverpool.com says: It seems highly unlikely that Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk would leave the Reds for the same club, especially one outside of Europe's top five leagues. At the same time, a move to the Middle East isn't out of the question for either player.

Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth)

The iPaper reports that Liverpool leads Manchester City and Manchester United in the race for talented Bournemouth fullback Milos Kerkez.

The 21-year-old was signed by Bournemouth for £15.5 million ($18.4 million) from Feyenoord by former sporting director Richard Hughes, who now holds the same position for the Reds.

There is no concrete proposal on the table for the Hungarian international, though Kerkez could immediately see minutes for the potential Premier League champions if he moves in January.

Liverpool.com says: Even though Bournemouth signed Kerkez's potential replacement this January in Julio Soler, the club is under no pressure to sell. Is it worth the massive fee to get him now? We'd lean no - unless Hughes can negotiate a more budget-friendly price.