The summer of 2025 will provide Liverpool with a nightmarish contract situation.
All-time goal scorer Mohamed Salah, homegrown star Trent Alexander-Arnold, and club captain Virgil van Dijk are free to discuss possible pre-contract deals with foreign clubs.
Richard Hughes, the sporting director, has been unable to reach an agreement with any of the three before the deadline since January 1.
Fans believed that Van Dijk’s deal was the “easiest” to negotiate. Indeed, we stated in November that a renewal was nearly complete. It appeared to be a formality that the 33-year-old’s renewal would shortly be announced.
We wrote, “Van Dijk will be staying with Liverpool unless there is a strange last-minute twist.” Perhaps that strange turn of events has occurred, as much as we would like to tempt fate.
We wrote, “Van Dijk will be staying with Liverpool unless there is a strange last-minute twist.” Perhaps that strange turn of events has occurred, as much as we would like to tempt fate.
Because there is really no justification for Hughes and FSG not to have completed at least one of these agreements by now. According to our report, Van Dijk’s agents informed prospective suitors that he was essentially off the market.
Just that would have indicated how near ratification the agreement was. However, Van Dijk and Real Madrid have once again been linked in recent weeks. That seems to go against the news that a new deal was imminent.
Why is Van Dijk taking so long?
According to reports around Christmas, Madrid was ready to send out David Alaba and Eder Militao to make room for Van Dijk’s summer arrival. Then, it was revealed that Van Dijk’s group had made Los Blancos an offer for their client’s services, which Madrid is alleged to have turned down.
Ahead of Liverpool’s Boxing Day match against Leicester, Van Dijk also made remarks regarding his predicament, cautioning the team that he still had three or four more years to play at his best.
Van Dijk was questioned about his contract status following the match against Manchester United over the weekend. His response was, “Nothing.” Van Dijk and the club are obviously at a standstill. One can only surmise as to if it has anything to do with Alexander-Arnold and Salah’s extensions.
However, with the captain in their plans, FSG and Richard Hughes had an opportunity to make a HUGE leap forward and be ready for the upcoming season.
What’s the hold-up, then?
There was a lot of hope that Liverpool would make a big offer for Van Dijk, which was said to take two years, but the player claims that the sides are still more at odds than ever.
There is little doubt that it is causing fans to feel dismayed. What chance do the contracts for Trent and Salah have if Hughes and FSG are unable to convince Van Dijk to sign? Hopefully, we won’t have to learn.
