Contract extensions have now changed switch obsession with three key gamers to see their offers with the membership expire in 2025, so what ought to Liverpool’s priorities be?

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah will all turn into free brokers subsequent summer season if Liverpool don’t safe new offers for the trio.

They’re three of the primary names on the crew sheet and integral pillars of the Reds’ current success and, hopefully, what continues to be to come back beneath Arne Slot.

However, because it stands, they’re free to depart in 2025, and it’s protected to say all eyes are on the membership and the way they deal with any renewals.

Right here, This Is Anfield’s Joanna Durkan (@JoannaDurkan_), Jack Lusby (@LusbyJack) and Sam Millne (@sam_millne) focus on which contract is the precedence, what phrases we’d provide and real looking expectations.

First, a phrase on the membership permitting the state of affairs to achieve this level?

SAM: I’ve sympathy with the membership concerning Salah and to some extent, Van Dijk.

It was just a few months in the past that he was underperforming and plenty of supporters have been suggesting it was time to money in.

For Alexander-Arnold, although, it appears nonsensical to permit him to achieve his closing yr. Whereas the participant could rightly have been smart to see how issues developed over this summer season, the time for Liverpool to behave was in 2023, not 2024.

JOANNA: It’s a state of affairs that has simply been handed from one figurehead to the subsequent because of the sporting director altering each summer season. Everybody was comfortable to cross the problem alongside.

In saying that, Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards knew what they have been inheriting and that the gamers proceed to say they haven’t heard something is alarming.

To an extent they’ve dropped the ball and the shortage of switch exercise has solely made the highlight on Hughes shine brighter, so what he does subsequent might be telling.

JACK: I’ve to confess my opinion has modified from once I first heard Salah’s feedback on the state of affairs.

At first it appeared like blind negligence from the present regime, however contemplating the brief period of time they’ve been working collectively and the numerous variables in play – together with Arne Slot needing time to evaluate his squad – it’s no actual shock they’re but to handle contracts.

It’s extra an indictment of how the membership allowed issues to float round Jurgen Klopp, delegating an increasing number of to the supervisor and with Jorg Schmadtke introduced in solely to execute transfers.

Lastly there seems to be stability and sense behind the scenes and hopefully, that may now see errors like this addressed.

What do you need to see occur with the three gamers out of contract in 2025? How would you prioritise their offers?

JOANNA: Ideally, we don’t lose any of them subsequent summer season – positively not on a free switch, that’s simply throwing cash away once they all nonetheless have unimaginable worth.

The membership’s stance is obvious on contract presents for these over 30, but when any two gamers have been to be an exception to the rule, it might be Salah and Van Dijk.

I nonetheless assume they’ve years left in them on the high and you’ll then section them out, if you’ll, as an alternative of going chilly turkey. Trent, alternatively, is a wholly totally different topic.

Liverpool have dropped the ball on his contract and I’d be signing him up for so long as I may. My listing of priorities could be (it hurts to have Virgil so low):

1. Trent
2. Salah
3. Van Dijk

JACK: I’d need to preserve all of them, although that will not have been my stance earlier this yr.

Within the closing ebbs of Klopp’s reign, it appeared like Salah and Van Dijk have been fading forces and it appeared like a parting of the way could have been the correct transfer.

Now, although, each are again to their finest and seem reinvigorated beneath Slot.

Possibly that is how the membership seen the state of affairs, too? Who is aware of, however there’s no solution to clarify permitting Alexander-Arnold to coast into the ultimate yr of his deal alongside them.

I agree with Jo:

1. Trent – primarily as a result of there appears extra threat of his head turning.
2. Salah.
3. Van Dijk.

SAM: For the apparent motive being age, Trent is an important to tie down however in case you have been to rank the opposite two, it’s troublesome.

If Federico Chiesa stays match and appears like a participant who can fill Salah’s boots, even in a extra human means, then maybe Van Dijk’s contract would tackle extra significance.

If Liverpool had signed a centre-half this summer season then it might have been the opposite means spherical. Both means, the membership have left themselves with loads to do subsequent summer season.

If contract talks have been in your fingers, what phrases would you provide every of them?

JACK: A lifetime contract for Trent. Two years for Van Dijk and three for Salah.

JOANNA: Trent, clearly, must be on the longest deal, and it might be a case of giving him the longest one he’s keen to signal, say six years.

I might be snug with two years every for Van Dijk and Salah, maybe with an possibility for an additional season ought to they hit efficiency and look markers.

They don’t want convincing to remain, they should really feel valued sufficient to not depart.

SAM: Give Trent the keys to Anfield, for my part. He is just too good to let depart with no fuss.

For Van Dijk and Salah, a two-year deal appears most applicable however with the caveat that they will’t count on to play each minute of each sport.

Realistically, what are you anticipating to occur?

JOANNA: I don’t know whether it is simply me being overly optimistic, however I believe all three of them lengthen (ultimately).

I simply don’t need this to be the backdrop for the season, there needs to be an eagerness to wrap all of it up rapidly a technique or one other with the switch window now over.

I actually don’t need to attain January and should endure numerous rumours about every of them.

JACK: I’d agree. So long as they’re all provided new offers I don’t see any of the three selecting to depart.

It’s value declaring that it does little to assist the membership in leaking particulars of talks at this stage and issues are possible totally different to how they’ve been depicted within the media.

I’ll take a punt and say no less than one in every of these is resolved by the October break. Let’s hope all three are achieved earlier than the top of the yr!

SAM: Personally, I believe they’ll all keep however that might be the optimist in me.

Of the three, I’m most nervous about Trent’s state of affairs. Let’s hope he doesn’t spend an excessive amount of time with Jude Bellingham over the subsequent yr!