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Mohamed Salah 'eyeing massive contract' as Liverpool hailed over 'clever' Ibrahima Konate move

Mohamed Salah during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool at Selhurst Park.
-Credit: (Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)


The speculation surrounding Trent Alexander-Arnold and Real Madrid shows no sign of abating while the Saudi Pro League continues to be linked with Mohamed Salah. Liverpool, though, have been told that, of the three core squad members in the final year of their Anfield contract, the priority should lay elsewhere.

"I think Virgil van Dijk is the most important to tie down because if we were without him, I think we'd struggle a little bit," says Mark Lawrenson. "He's such an impressive player and character as well."

As a former Liverpool centre-back who was a regular alongside Alan Hansen in the all-conquering team of the 1980s, Lawrenson knows a thing or two about the defensive art. And he is in no doubt about Van Dijk's standing on the world stage.

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"There's still nobody better, quite honestly," Lawrenson says to the ECHO. "He is the best there is around. He influences so many people on the team. We hear always that he's great in the dressing room, and his standard this season has probably gone up a little bit if anything.

"He would be the easiest one to tie down to a new contract. After all, where is he going to go? Van Dijk can't be at any better place than where he is at the moment. He runs the dressing room alongside a few others like Alisson Becker.

"If you're the manager and you watch your team go out every game and see him play, not just with his playing ability but also how he can circle the wagons when needed, he does half the job for you."

Van Dijk has been outstanding this season under new Liverpool boss and Holland compatriot Arne Slot, having rekindled his partnership at the heart of defence with Ibrahima Konate.

Konate had suffered a disappointing end to last season and was benched in favour of Jarell Quansah for Slot's first competitive game in charge, the Premier League opener at Ipswich Town in August. At half-time, though, the Frenchman replaced the 21-year-old and has subsequently played every minute in the top flight and Champions League.

"It was a clever bit of management - first game of the season and Slot leaves out Konate," reckons Lawrenson. "It was a shot across the bows, saying everybody knows you are a far better player than you are showing us, so go out and show us. And that's exactly what Konate has been doing since.

"Quansah will be living and learning from the main two now. The whole club is in a great position - I'll bet Slot wakes up in the middle of the night and thinks 'I'm manager of Liverpool... how good is this?'. And at the moment, it has been straightforward for him."

By contrast, Joe Gomez has struggled for game time and was close to leaving Liverpool for Newcastle United in the summer.

"If I'm Joe Gomez, I'll be knocking on the manager's door and having a chat about what he wants," says Lawrenson. "If you're the manager, you'll want Gomez to stay because if one or two get injured, Gomez is in.

"I don't think Liverpool will consider letting Gomez go until they have a replacement because you know what happens - you let someone go and somebody gets injured and all of a sudden you only have two centre-backs for the rest of the season.

"It's a bit harsh on Gomez, yes. But it's something he has to live with for now."

While confident Liverpool skipper Van Dijk would be receptive to a contract extension, Lawrenson is less convinced over vice-captain Alexander-Arnold's long-term Anfield future.

"I'm concerned that Trent will go to Real Madrid," he says, speaking on behalf of Sports Casting. "Everybody knows his big mate Jude Bellingham plays there, and it's only a couple of months before he can officially start talking to other clubs.

"With these guys it's not really about money. He might just think he wants the experience of going and playing in Spain, he wants to learn a new language and widen his horizons, all those kind of things. I think of the three, he is the most probable to leave.

"I think Mo might stay. Saudi Arabia is his obvious other destination, but is that fulfilling at this stage of his career? I don't think so. Every time I pick my phone up I see Cristiano Ronaldo has scored some more goals, and I think 'so what?'.

"With Mo, I always get the impression he needs a bit of love, an arm around the shoulder saying he's one of the best players in the world. I look at him now and think he's leaner and meaner as though he's trying to earn himself a massive contract as he wants to be in this team every week and score a gazillion goals."