Former Liverpool manager Graeme Souness has said he would not be surprised if his old club lost Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah on free transfers next summer. It is a scenario Reds fans do not want to contemplate.
The exit of cannot be ruled out either, as he too is out of contract at the end of 2024/25. However, does not anticipate that the Dutchman will be leaving .
“Would it surprise me if Virgil stayed? No,” he told the . “He is the one of the three I think is most likely to remain because at this moment in time, where is he going to go to get more money and a bigger football club? He is an absolute Rolls Royce who looks like he is playing without even getting into fourth gear,” Souness added. His comments on and were less pleasing to Liverpool supporters.
“The concern for Liverpool’s fans is that three players who really have proven themselves over time – Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk – are out of contract this summer. It’s barely two months until Christmas and in January they can talk to other clubs.
“I can assure you Liverpool will have been talking to their representatives and by now will know what those guys are going to do, going forward. I imagine the three of them will have made their minds up on what their plans are after this season,” Souness continued.
“Trent seems to have a relationship with Bellingham at Real Madrid. Would it surprise me if he ends up going there? No.
“Would it surprise me if Salah stayed? Slightly. Because I think there would be huge appeal to him, as an Egyptian and a Muslim, in earning astronomical money for the next three or four years in Saudi Arabia, the cradle of Islam and a country which has a maritime border with his own,” he said.
The Scot has divided Liverpool’s key men in to stay, maybe and go in terms of their immediate futures. Will he be proved correct? That’s for the players, their representatives and Richard Hughes to decide.
Souness’s assessment feels logical at least. All three could play for just about any side but Alexander-Arnold is the one most will covet due to his age. The only way is probably down for van Dijk while the link between the and Salah is an obvious one. Kopites will be hoping all three are part of ’s squad next season though.
