Liverpool land £100m signing for ‘nothing’: ‘I’m really shocked’
Liverpool have caused major shock after landing a huge asset without having to pay a transfer fee.
The contractual situation between Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold has dominated Arne Slot’s first season in English football.
The 46-year-old joined Liverpool last summer following a successful spell with Feyenoord, in which he won the Eredivisie and the KNVB Cup in just three-years.
Despite the difficult circumstances surrounding three of his most key players, Slot is set to lift the Premier League at the first time of asking.
However, with one of Liverpool‘s attacking talents having perhaps the best season of his career, Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson is amazed by Mohamed Salah’s decision to commit his long-term future to the club and belatedly sign a new two-year deal.
Paul Merson ‘shocked’ Mohamed Salah signed Liverpool deal
Speaking live on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday (12 April, 12.09pm), Merson said: “No I’m shocked, I’m really shocked. I didn’t think he would sign, I thought it’d just dragged on too long.
“To let your contract go to this long [left], literally two or three months to go, for me that tells me that you want to me leaving, do you know what I mean?
“So I’m shocked, it’s a major, major coup for Liverpool, a major coup. You’re getting a £100million player for nothing, it’s unbelievable. They’ve had the biggest result.
“For them to let their three players wind their contracts down and to get probably two out of the three to sign is a major coup and it just shows you what an unbelievably, how big a club that Liverpool is.”
| Mohamed Salah stats for Liverpool 24/25 |
| Games – 45 |
| Goals – 32 |
| Assists – 22 |
Extending Mohamed Salah’s contract massive for Liverpool
Football Insider Verdict
The news that Liverpool have tied down Salah for another two-years is massive for the club’s momentum under Slot.
Salah’s influence on the team is one which cannot be replicated easily and with Liverpool on course to win the Premier League in the Dutch coaches first year, the 32-year-old’s extension will provide further optimism going forward.
As it stands, the Reds are set to lose Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer to Real Madrid, but there is still hope that captain Van Dijk will commit his future as well.
It was crucial for Liverpool to make the best of this difficult situation, which saw perhaps the three best players at the club all with six-months remaining on their deals heading into the final stage of the season.
However, the announcement before the end of the campaign will allow the fans to enjoy their moment as imminent champions in the league, while hoping that at least one of Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold follow suit in signing new deals.