Liverpool FC news: Contract detail spells TROUBLE in key talks

There are now just over six weeks remaining until Liverpool’s superstar trio - Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold - will be able to officially negotiate with other clubs over a potential Anfield exit at the end of the season, when their contracts currently run out.

It feels like now is the time for contract negotiations to seriously ramp up, if they haven’t already. The international break offers Liverpool a two-week window to start to bring all parties closer in coming to a deal.

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However, Arne Slot and Sporting Director Richard Hughes find themselves in a difficult position during the break, with van Dijk away with the Netherlands, Trent at home injured and Salah taking an unexpected trip to the Middle East.

Ideally all three would be available to meet the club with their representatives, but it looks like time will be limited on that front over the next while.

That leaves just over a month for Slot and Hughes to sort contracts before risking losing any of their three leaders to a pre-contract agreement elsewhere.

And according to James Pearce of The Athletic, that may not be enough time to tie them down.

Quansah's contract negotiations set a precedent

Jarrell Quansah recently signed a new, long-term contract at the club - a reward for his great form over the last 12 months and a sign that Liverpool see huge potential in him.

It was great news, but a small detail in the negotiations could spell trouble for other deals.

“This is a pivotal period in ongoing discussions with Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, given they can pen pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs from January 1 onwards,” Pearce writes in his newsletter.

Pearce says that all three of the deals have a high level of complexity which is making Hughes’ life difficult when trying to strike an agreement.

“For example, talks over Jarell Quansah’s extension spanned four months and that, on the face of it, was a relatively straightforward renewal. Getting Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold tied down is more complex.

"The sooner there is clarity, the better. Whether those players stay or go will have a massive impact on what Liverpool need to do in the transfer market next summer."

If such a 'straightforward' deal took four months to complete, what chance does Hughes have with just over one month to deal with three complex ones?

Of course, just because all three players can sign pre-contract agreements from the start of 2025 doesn't mean that they will.

While we're sure Hughes would much prefer to have each deal tied up before then, it's not 100% necessary. However, if they do let it get to that stage, Liverpool will be playing a very risky game.

Will Liverpool lose their stars?

Hughes came into a difficult situation at Liverpool. Trying to bring new players in after an overhaul of the footballing structure at the club was never going to be that easy, while most people have been focused on the various contract problems at Anfield.

The good news is that, as well as Quansah, Liverpool are in negotiations with Ibrahima Konate over a new deal at the club. Tying those two to long-term deals will have been a priority in case van Dijk decides to leave the club.

It's clear that van Dijk loves the club, and at this moment in time seems the most likely to renew his contract, once he and the club come to an agreement over the length of the deal.

Salah is in a similar situation. He has shown his hand through his performances on the pitch, where he is playing as well as he ever has. However, in order to keep him at Anfield, Liverpool will probably need to make him the highest-earner in the Premier League, something FSG don't like to do with older players.

Trent is the most difficult one to figure out. He has been courted by Real Madrid for some time, who are pulling out all the stops to sign him. Of all three, he seems most likely to not renew his deal at this moment in time.

READ MORE: Liverpool and Real Madrid in AGREEMENT over Trent Alexander-Arnold