Liverpool ‘desperate to keep’ one in particular of Salah, Trent and Van Dijk
Liverpool risk losing all three of their out-of-contract stars as a result of the wages on offer compared to rival clubs.
This is according to former Man United, Tottenham and Aston Villa scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as the exclusively told Football Insider that Liverpool cannot match the wage offers from Saudi clubs.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have all entered the final year of their contracts at Anfield and have made little progress towards renewals.
This has led to plenty of speculation about where their futures may lie, with extensive interest in the players who remain key parts of Arne Slot’s first-choice side.
Brown insisted that the Reds are “desperate” to keep hold of Alexander-Arnold, as they are with Salah and Van Dijk, but it may be taken out of their hands.
It is said that the Reds may not be capable of offering the wages that will be on offer to their players in Saudi Arabia or at Real Madrid given their financial situation.
As a result, they are powerless to the decisions of the players, who still hold the cards about whether they will remain or leave Anfield.
Liverpool wage concerns emerge amid latest contract twists
As is often the case with players moving on a free transfer, the deals are likely to include a bumper pay packet and a hefty sign-on bonus in the absence of a transfer fee.
Brown, who has a wealth of experience working with players and agents at the top level, including over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, explained that players and agents can be guided by the money on offer.
“I’ve been told they’re desperate to keep Trent,” he told Football Insider.
“The three players they’ve got in this position: Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold, they really want to keep all three of them.
“But there are a few reasons why they might not be able to.
“I don’t think Liverpool are the highest payers when it comes to players and clubs at that level.
“These star players could earn more money if they made a move to Saudi Arabia, or in Alexander-Arnold’s case, if he goes to Real Madrid.
“They might be guided by that because often players and agents especially are.
“It would leave a massive hole in the Liverpool setup, though. That’s why they’re so desperate to keep them.
“They would then have to go and recruit replacements from elsewhere and from what I’ve heard, they don’t have a limitless budget to spend.”
In other news, England fans were shocked by an unexpected Alexander-Arnold twist.
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