Although Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk are set to signal two-year offers at Liverpool, their contract extensions may benefit the Reds for for much longer than simply the following couple of seasons.
Lastly.
After a 12 months of thoughts video games, media nudges and cryptic social posts, Salah and Van Dijk’s new contracts are on the point of being formally confirmed.
The negotiations have been drawn out, fan debates tedious and we nonetheless don’t even know what color Trent Alexander-Arnold will put on subsequent season.
Nevertheless, what we do know is that Liverpool’s two most distinguished figures over the previous seven years shall be reporting for obligation in Kirkby come August, prepared for one more intense marketing campaign.
The membership and gamers have reportedly settled on a contract size of two years for each Van Dijk and Salah, one thing that ought to profit Liverpool past their expiration in 2027.
Planning for the longer term
Within the quick time period, the captain and Salah will stay key figures within the beginning XI. It does must be acknowledged, although, that they’re 33 years previous and 32 years previous respectively.
Whereas Van Dijk’s taking part in fashion and the Egyptian’s unimaginable health are each mitigations towards their age, time catches us all finally and it will likely be fascinating to see how the pair are faring in two years’ time.
Whereas the clock will in the end grow to be inescapable for the senior duo, Liverpool have purchased time with regards to planning for his or her successors.
It’s an unimaginable job to interchange Salah on the suitable, however an additional 12 months or two does give Liverpool scope to develop their fashion to accommodate their eventual departures.
Whereas Van Dijk and Salah are each anticipated to be simply as distinguished subsequent 12 months as this, they might start for use extra sparingly as their contracts run down once more.
Hopefully, Liverpool are proactive and use the time gained to signal gamers who can step into their sneakers upon their eventual exits, at any time when that could be.
The Reds now have two summers to recruit in defence and assault which might enable the incomers time to mattress into the membership, somewhat than anticipating them to hit the heights of their seniors from the very begin.
The job of moving into Salah and Van Dijk’s sneakers isn’t a simple one, however Liverpool have now given themselves a head begin find the most effective options.
In addition they have a greater bargaining place, because the Reds would have confronted sky-high costs with opposition golf equipment understanding they wanted replacements rapidly. That state of affairs may now be averted.
Liverpool imply enterprise
The extensions of the No. 4 and No. 11 additionally make the image clearer for these on the membership and the gamers contemplating a transfer to Merseyside.
Like final season, when Arne Slot took over from Jurgen Klopp, it was comprehensible that people needed to see how issues performed out earlier than placing pen to paper.
If Van Dijk and Salah have been to go away this summer time, together with Alexander-Arnold, the Reds would once more be in a state of uncertainty.
Nevertheless, their impending signatures will go away gamers who’ve contracts expiring subsequent season, like Ibrahima Konate, arguably extra prone to prolong themselves.
The presence of Salah and Van Dijk must also assist in the switch market, as Liverpool’s aims grow to be clearer and targets see that the Reds are right here to remain on the high desk underneath Slot.
Management and the vice-captaincy
With the possible departure of Alexander-Arnold would come an area within the squad for a brand new vice-captain.
Although it appears Salah has been doing a variety of work as a pacesetter within the staff anyway, Andy Robertson, Alisson and he are the plain candidates to get the nod behind the skipper.
Whereas the winger’s function wouldn’t notably change inside the dressing room, it might give him elevated standing on paper.
Protecting him and Van Dijk would crucially additionally present continuity on and off the pitch.
With the potential for a number of incomings and outgoings this summer time, retaining the backbone that has been so profitable might be key within the early levels of subsequent season.
As Robertson and maybe even Alisson start to spend extra time on the bench additionally, it will likely be helpful to have skilled winners on the pitch.
Above all, although, the standard of Salah and Van Dijk is most necessary. The membership are canny and if there have been any signal of decline, Liverpool wouldn’t offer them such profitable offers.
Protecting the Reds’ two finest performers isn’t a nasty technique to begin a summer time that might affect the staff’s fortunes for a number of years to return, not simply 2025/26.
