Mo Salah has put pen to paper. Virgil Van Dijk is almost certain to follow suit. These breakthroughs have come shortly after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s desire to leave have become public. How did Trent impact the Salah/Van Dijk contract saga and was this Liverpool’s plan all along.
Richard Hughes makes amends
The Liverpool Sporting Director has received criticism this season. Since his appointment, the club’s long term vision appeared to have taken steps backwards.
Apart from a £12.5 million Federico Chiesa punt which hasn’t paid off thus far, Liverpool have been inactive in terms of future squad planning.
The infamous three Salah, Trent and Van Dijk contracts of were running down with no apparent breakthroughs in sight.
Finally, Richard Hughes and the Liverpool Board do what every fan has demanded since the beginning. Sign the two best players and dressing room leaders to new contracts.
And let the other one, who wants to leave, go.
The mood around the club has changed in an instant. From an underpinning of negativity around recent team performance, to fan elation and anticipation for what’s ahead this season and beyond.
Trent’s Desire to leave is Liverpool’s Gain
Real Madrid’s interest in Trent has been known for months. Ever since their £20 million January bid, departure has looked the likely option.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is a phenomenal player. His technique matched on the ball is matched only by the very best. He is unique in the way he sees the game and plays the Right Back position.
However, Liverpool knew that keeping Trent is not imperative.
Conor Bradley Keeps Impressing
Conor Bradley impresses each and every time he steps onto that pitch. His powerful, offensive runs forwards are matched by his excellent defensive recovery ability and tenacity in the challenge.
Bradley is young, hungry and exceptionally talented. His future at Liverpool is bright.
Despite Liverpool losing their starting Right Back, they have a replacement already in the wings.
If Liverpool didn’t have a Bradley, perhaps they would’ve needed more funds to sign a potential replacement.
Wages freed to be used in other areas
The most important aspect of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure. The ability to allocate his wages into other areas.
Prior to Trent’s decision, the Liverpool Board had potentially three key players that would all require new and improved deals to keep them at the club.
This was especially true for the 26 year old Trent Alexander-Arnold. His current age profile meant his next deal would be a pricey one, for the short and long term.
Now, Richard Hughes had a simpler decision. Use those resources that Trent refused and sign the two most important players to new 2027 deals.
Liverpool’s Plan all along
Something we may never know, but if we speculate then we see the signs of strategy.
Liverpool would’ve known about Trent’s desire to leave for quite some time. Announcing it early allowed the Mo Salah and Van Dijk deals to be completed sooner.
However, the team had an incredible start, and releasing the news of Trent’s departure would’ve caused unnecessary noise and disruption around the club.
Mo Salah playing for a new contract
This isn’t the first time Mohammed Salah has had an incredible season with an ongoing and uncertain contract discussion.
Following an remarkable first season in which he scored a record breaking 32 Premier League goals, he signed a 5 year deal to keep him at the club till 2023.
This would be the last ‘drama free’ Mo Salah contract renewal at Liverpool.
First Contract Struggle
In 2021/22 with only a year left on his deal, Mo Salah had a phenomenal individual season.
That year he went on to celebrate his 100th Premier League goal and finished that campaign with a 46 goal contributions in 51 games.
That season Liverpool narrowly missed out on the ‘Quadruple’. After winning both The FA and Carabao Cup, they lost to Real Madrid in the final and missed out on the Premier League by 1 point on the final day.
This season was the first time we heard the term ‘contract negotiation Salah’, in relation to his excellent performances when his contract is due to expire.
After long and arduous negotiations over a sizable pay rise, he eventually earned himself and new £350,000 p/w contract which kept him until the summer of 2025.
His exceptional performances were hard to deny, and made his wage demands more palpable.
Latest Contract Saga comes to an End
Mo Salah yet again entered the final year of his contract. This time is wasn’t his wage demands what would be the stumbling block, but his age.
Most players 32 years of age would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. It is not the policy to renew older players contracts as they are seen as depreciating assets.
Mo Salah however is anything but. So far this season he has registered a staggering 54 goals/assists in 45 games with 7 league games till to play.
Numbers like that make this news almost inevitable. Mo Salah is staying at Liverpool until 2027.
The Club was smart to hold back new deal
It might not have seemed like it at the time, but the club and it’s board made wise decisions.
If a player has significant increase in output due to a desire to secure a new deal, then the timing of the Mo Salah contract makes perfect sense.
Delay the decision, get the most out of the player whilst allowing yourself time to make the correct call.
Leadership structure remains ahead of busy summer
An aspect that is underappreciated in signing Virgil Van Dijk and Mo Salah to new deals is their impact around the entire club, including players, coaches and ultimately fans.
They are the key figures in terms of the Leadership structure within the squad. Losing that calibre of personality would’ve had a certain negative impact.
Attracting New Players
Now when players hear Liverpool want to sign them, they’ll know Mo Salah and Virgil Van Dijk will be a part of their future.
All of that uncertainty is brushed aside.
Liverpool will now look to build on what is an incredible over-achievement by Arne Slot and his players this season.
To Gary Neville’s despair, Liverpool are going nowhere.
Thumbnail photo:
- (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
- (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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