Mohamed Salah is reportedly on the verge of signing a new contract at Anfield after reaching a compromise with Liverpool. According to the Sunday Mirror, the Egyptian will sign a two-year deal to bring weeks of speculation to an end.
The news will come as a massive relief to Liverpool fans, especially given the sort of form Salah has shown this season. Still by far and away the Reds’ best attacking player, it became increasingly clear that the club could ill-afford to let the 32-year-old leave for nothing, even if FSG has its doubts about signing up a player beyond 30 to anything more than a one-year extension.
There is, of course, still two more elephants in the room that need addressing though. Salah might be set to stay, but we’re still yet to find out what will become of Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s futures.
As things stand, both will be departing at the end of the season for free – a situation that, like Salah’s exit, is unthinkable for Liverpool fans. With January now just over three weeks away, there is a sense of greater urgency about reaching a conclusion on their contracts.
The pair will be able to agree pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs in the New Year unless they put pen to paper at Anfield before then. Both players are important to Liverpool, but this season especially, it has become clear who should become the next priority after Salah.
Van Dijk has been simply immense for Liverpool this season. The remarkable start made under Arne Slot has been built upon an improved defensive structure, one that has been led by the Reds’ talismanic Dutchman.
Van Dijk has played every minute in the Premier League and Champions League so far this season, and the results speak for themselves. He has been instrumental in Liverpool keeping seven clean sheets in the league, while also conceding just one goal in five European games – not bad considering the Reds have come up against Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan, among others.
And it’s not just his defensive numbers that set the tone for Liverpool. Van Dijk also boasts the most touches (1,259) and passes (1,107) in the Premier League, demonstrating how instrumental he is in the Reds’ offensive efforts as well.
During this whole contract standoff, Van Dijk has always seemed the most gettable of the three. Indeed, it felt as though he would be the first to sign a new deal, especially when reports emerged recently of a breakthrough.
Those claims look to have been a bit premature now, and Salah looks as though he will beat his captain to the punch now. Liverpool’s next step is clear though – get Van Dijk signed up, and then the focus can turn to Alexander-Arnold.
