Liverpool contracts: The HUGE summer decisions including Salah and van Dijk

Liverpool are about to enter a summer transfer window without Jurgen Klopp at the helm for the first time in almost a decade, and there are HUGE contract decisions to be made when it comes to the makeup of their squad moving forward.

With Arne Slot looking likely to be taking the reins in the very near future, he'll be overseeing a team very much in transition, with some massive names including Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk about to head into the final year of their current deals.

Throw in a new backroom structure needing to hit the ground running following the incredible success of Klopp, and it's clear this is a crossroads moment for the Reds.

READ MORE: How Edwards and Hughes will TAKE BACK Klopp's power in new LFC structure

With Slot likely to take on the role of 'head coach' rather than manager, all eyes will be on incoming sporting director Richard Hughes and the returning Michael Edwards, who takes on the role as FSG's CEO of Football.

So what is the latest contract situation for the current first-team squad as we head at speed towards a crucial summer transfer window?

Time for a full rundown on where things stand - and some expert analysis from our man Sam McGuire on what is likely to happen next.

Liverpool FC player contracts with end dates

This is how the current contract situation stands for the first-team squad:

Player	Position	Contract Ends
Alisson Becker	Goalkeeper	2027
Caoimhin Kelleher	Goalkeeper	2026
Adrian	Defender	2024
Joe Gomez	Defender	2027
Calvin Ramsay	Defender	2027
Andy Robertson	Defender	2026
Ibrahima Konate	Defender	2026
Virgil Van Dijk	Defender	2025
Trent Alexander-Arnold	Defender	2025
Kostas Tsimikas	Defender	2025
Joel Matip	Defender	2024
Conor Bradley	Defender	2026
Alexis Mac Allister	Midfielder	2028
Dominik Szoboszlai	Midfielder	2028
Ryan Gravenberch	Midfielder	2028
Harvey Elliott	Midfielder	2027
Curtis Jones	Midfielder	2027
Wataru Endo	Midfielder	2027
Stefan Bajcetic	Midfielder	2027
Thiago Alcantara	Midfielder	2024
Darwin Nunez	Forward	2028
Cody Gakpo	Forward	2028
Luiz Diaz	Forward	2027
Diogo Jota	Forward	2027
Ben Doak	Forward	2026
Mo Salah	Forward	2025

Which players are out of contract this summer?

There are three players set to be out of contract in the summer of 2024 - Thiago, Joel Matip and Adrian. Sam McGuire gives his take on what likely happens next with each of them:

" Thiago spent a grand total of five minutes on the pitch for Liverpool this season. Having finally recovered from a long-term hip injury, he was given a cameo in the defeat to Arsenal and somehow ended up picking up a season-ending hamstring issue. Had he been able to play some part this term, there’s a world in which he’s kept on for another 12 months due to his experience and quality. Unfortunately, he’s unreliable and eats up a large chunk of the wage bill. He’s going to be moved on. 

READ MORE: Why a new Liverpool contract for Mo Salah might be the best thing - Sam McGuire

Matip is another who could’ve prolonged his Liverpool career had it not been for injury. The 32-year-old suffered an ACL injury in early December and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. Klopp would’ve likely given him an extension had he been sticking around but with the German tactician leaving at the end of the campaign, it is unlikely those coming in will be quite as sentimental towards the centre-back. For this squad to be refreshed, ruthless decisions need to be made and Matip will likely suffer as a consequence. 

Adrian has been linked with moves away from Anfield for the past couple of summers but always ends up signing an extension. However, this time could be different. In truth, it probably will be different. Klopp and his coaching team wanted specific personalities in the dressing room and the Spanish goalkeeper was quite clearly a character. Adrian won’t feel the same connection to the new coaching team and they might want new personalities to dominate their dressing room. "

Big contract questions facing Liverpool this summer

The summer couldn't be bigger for the Reds, with a trio of cornerstone stars all centre stage. McGuire provides the analysis on the questions facing the new Liverpool backroom structure.

"Richard Hughes is going to be busy this summer. Liverpool have three key players heading into the final 12 months of their contracts and decisions will need to be made. What happens during the 2024/25 pre-season could shape the Arne Slot era. 

Skipper Virgil Van Dijk is one of those players whose contract expires in 2025. There had been an expectation that he would put pen to paper not long after being named as the man to succeed Jordan Henderson as Liverpool captain. However, the uncertainty at the club, what with there being no full-time sporting director in place, has meant contract talks have been postponed for practically the entirety of the campaign. 

Now that there is a clear plan in place, with Hughes as Sporting Director, Michael Edwards as the CEO of football and Slot coming in as coach, it should make negotiations with the No4 a little easier. There’s reportedly interest in him from European clubs but it feels like a formality that he’ll be the face of the new project at Anfield. 

Trent Alexander-Arnold is heading into questionable territory too. The generational right-back has just one year left on his deal and he’s another who looked set to sign a new contract after being named as the club’s new vice-captain. Perhaps he wanted to wait to see what things looked like in a post-Klopp world before agreeing to give his peak years to his boyhood club. After all, he’s won everything he can with the club. He has, in essence, completed football with the Reds. It wasn’t necessarily a given he would extend if he didn’t think it would benefit his career. Fingers crossed he’s got the desire to be one of the main players in a new-look Liverpool team. 

READ MORE: Why Alexander-Arnold is facing AGONISING Liverpool contract decision

There’s the Mohamed Salah conundrum too. The club’s highest paid player is out of contract in 2025 and though he reportedly wants to stay, Liverpool have a decision to make. They aren’t in a position to let him run down his deal and leave on a free. But, at the same time, they might not feel comfortable adding 12 months to his deal, especially on the wages he’s reportedly on, when his numbers have taken a significant hit since returning from injury. He’s an asset, both on and off the pitch, and the decision regarding Salah’s future is likely going to be the biggest of Hughes’ career. 

Curtis Jones sneaks into this discussion too. While he may have three years left on his deal, his role in the squad since signing that extension has drastically changed. He’s now a starter and he’s going to want to be paid accordingly. If Slot doens’t see him as a starter, he’s likely going to be eyeing up a move elsewhere as he’s at the point in his career in which he can’t be regressing."