Liverpool FC news recap: Salah's agent gives contract clue as Trent Alexander-Arnold jets out
By
George James
George James
All your Liverpool FC news on Tuesday, December 31st.
Ryan Gravenberch DOMINATING £115m star
Liverpool's defensive midfield saga has been well-documented over the last few years.
The club wanted Jude Bellingham, he said no. The club wanted Aurelien Tchouameni, but he said no. The club wanted Moises Caicedo, but he said no. The club wanted Martin Zubimendi, and he said no. The picture is clear.
However, once Caicedo declined the club's record-breaking offer of £111m, Liverpool went on to bring in Wataru Endo, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai, the first three of which were capable of filling in as a DM.
But after Klopp tried Endo and Mac Allister in the role, it took Arne Slot to come in and give Gravenberch the nod, a move that has since proved to be invaluable to the success of the club this season.
The £34m Dutchman has played in almost every game this season and looks like a brand new player to the one that arrived on Merseyside in 2023 - so much so, that many are calling for Liverpool to call off their search for another defensive-minded player.
EXCLUSIVE: Homesick Federico Chiesa struggles
Liverpool added only one player during the summer transfer window.
Winger Federico Chiesa was signed from Juventus for a fee that could eventually reach £12 million. However it’s fair to say things haven’t worked out thus far for the 27-year-old.
The Italy winger has played only FOUR times for Liverpool, appearing for a total of only 18 minutes in the Premier League. He was absent from the matchday squad again on Sunday as a Mo Salah-inspired Liverpool ran riot over West Ham at the London Stadium.
Chiesa was supposed to be a Salah replacement this season, allowing the Egyptian time to rest and recuperate but it hasn’t worked out like that. Instead, it’s been left to Salah to carry the goalscoring and creative burden for Arne Slot’s side, reaching 20 goals and 17 assists in only 26 matches thus far.
And now Anfield Watch can reveal what's behind Chiesa's struggles.
Trent Alexander-Arnold jets out as contract DEADLINE nears
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been one of the most talked-about stars in world football this season.
The 26-year-old, who is vice-captain at his boyhood club Liverpool, could be available on a free transfer this summer.
The fullback’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season and, although talks are reportedly underway for an extension, his future in Merseyside has never been less certain.
And amid all the uncertainty, Alexander-Arnold has jetted out.
Mo Salah reveals his TRUE feelings on Saudi Arabia
Liverpool currently sit top of the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League and have only lost one match all season, but an off-pitch issue has been looming at Anfield for some time.
Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, arguably the Reds’ three best players, are all out of contract at the end of the season and could leave Anfield for free.
The future isn’t certain for any of the trio but there has been strong interest from Saudi Arabia in Salah over the past few seasons.
FSG's Arne Slot appointment VINDICATED after meltdown
The appointment of Arne Slot at Liverpool now looks like a masterstroke, but he wasn’t the only candidate that the Reds’ hierarchy had in mind.
When Jurgen Klopp announced he would be leaving Anfield a number of potential replacements were assessed by the club, including Ruben Amorim who is now struggling at Manchester United.
In the end it was Slot who was chosen to lead the Reds this season, and he is doing a phenomenal job with Liverpool top of the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.
As well as Slot and Amorim, Paulo Fonseca was also considered for the role, but it now looks like Liverpool may have dodged a bullet by skipping on the Portuguese head coach.
Salah's agent revealed why Liverpool are hesitant
Liverpool's hesitance to re-sign Mo Salah to a new contract is clear for the world to see. After all, he's currently the best player on the planet and actively wants to play for the Reds, yet he doesn't have a new deal.
And so, there must be some other reason for hesitancy. Liverpool have now let this one run on to the 'deadline', essentially. From January 1st, teams outside of England can formally negotiate with Salah and offer him their own contracts.
So how have Liverpool let it come to this? How is one of Liverpool's all-time greats struggling to get the club to sign him up?
His agent has actually revealed exactly why.
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