- Three of Liverpool’s best players are out of contract at the end of the season
- Three pundits gave their twopence on which superstar the Reds should keep
- LISTEN NOW: It all starts! Are Tottenham managers treated differently to other managers?
Jamie Carragher, Jamie Redknapp and Les Ferdinand have all weighed in on Liverpool’s contract issue, with three star players seeing their contracts expire in the near future.
Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold all have contracts next summer.
The trio have remained coy about their future at Anfield, with none of them yet publicly pledging their long-term allegiance to Arne Slot’s project on Merseyside.
When Carragher was given the ultimatum to choose one of the three players to stay at Liverpool, he chose Van Dijk.
“I would probably say Van Dijk, but I’m pretty sure Van Dijk and Salah will stay,” said the Liverpool legend.
“The only concern is Trent because of the situation he’s in, but I’m sure the other two will sign.”
Trent-Alexander Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk all have expiring contracts
Alexander-Arnold has been linked with a move to several European giants, including Real Madrid
Jamie Carragher has singled out Van Dijk as the one player Liverpool should try to keep
Since signing his first professional contract with his boyhood club in October 2015, Alexander-Arnold has signed three contract extensions: in 2016, 2019 and 2021.
He was recently scheduled for a successful move to Real Madrid, while contract negotiations at Liverpool have stagnated recently.
When asked about his future at the club, the 26-year-old simply stressed that details surrounding his contract situation will not be made public.
Furthermore, Mail Sport previously reported that Liverpool have made initial contact with Salah over a new contract offer, but the Egyptian star does not seem close to reaching an agreement with the Reds over an extension of his time on Merseyside.
Earlier this month, Van Dijk was also offered a new contract, but there was reportedly no breakthrough in negotiations with the 33-year-old.
Redknapp shared Carragher’s sentiments and said the Dutchman is an irreplaceable colossus in Liverpool’s backline.
‘I would go with Virgil. Yeah, because he’s just imperious and still playing at such a high level, I wouldn’t want to lose any of them,” he said.
‘I think Liverpool always had the opportunity, even though I was there over the years, [to replace superstars].
Salah became Liverpool’s fourth highest goalscorer on Sunday evening, now with 229 goals
Redknapp agreed with Carragher and said Van Dijk is an irreplaceable talent for the Reds
“Where Rush goes and then Fowler comes, and then Owen comes, and then Torres comes, and Suarez comes, and then Salah.
“It seems like they’re just turning strikers into superstars. So they will find someone. But I just don’t know where in world football you could find someone to replace Virgil.’
Ferdinand’s judgment made the decision unanimous; the former Tottenham striker also highlighted the importance of the 2019 Ballon d’Or runner-up in Liverpool’s defence.
‘The road [Van Dijk] “He is the boss of Liverpool’s backline and with the way he is so calm, he would be the one I would like to keep,” he said.