Though nothing is done yet, Trent Alexander-Arnold seems likely to be leaving Liverpool in the summer. Real Madrid has seemingly been too enticing for him to turn down the opportunity.
But what about Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah? The pair are in the same contract position, though they have both made public their interest in remaining put at Anfield. And, perhaps crucially, while Real Madrid has long been eyeing Alexander-Arnold, neither Van Dijk nor Salah has been linked with any particular club for a sustained period.
There will be interest if it comes to it — and while PSG denied recently that it was in talks with Van Dijk, clubs like the Ligue 1 giant would surely consider coming to the table in the event that he or Salah was available — but there are no obvious destinations for the duo. In contrast, with Alexander-Arnold, a Bernabeu switch has long felt more than a possibility.
Van Dijk has insisted on multiple occasions that nothing has been decided yet when it comes to his future, though Liverpool has been in talks with him for some time. The Dutchman is open to staying, for definite, but nothing has been agreed so far.
Ahead of the Carabao Cup final, Van Dijk even admitted that his future could be decided after the final Premier League match of the season against Crystal Palace has been played. “We will see what happens,” he said. “Maybe I will run this [contract] fully down and then there is still no news, I don’t know.”
Just over a month ago, Van Dijk had said there would “definitely” be news on his future in the next couple of months. “I can’t speak about personal conversations that have obviously been going on for a while,” he explained. “I can only say that I am fully committed to the club. I love the fans, I love the club. I’ve had such an amazing time already.”
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For now, the state of play is that nothing is decided, but there is optimism that Van Dijk will ultimately remain put. The player and Liverpool head coach Arne Slot certainly want that, which can only help.
And whether he stays or goes, Van Dijk is hoping to remain at the top level of the game rather than move to a lesser league, as Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman outlined this week. “Whether he signs with Liverpool or another big club, that’s all good for me,” he said. “We’ll see what happens. And what I understand from Virgil is that he is still looking for the level he is at now.”
If he does leave, there will be plenty of interest, and a move to, say, Saudi Arabia is highly unlikely. Unlike with Alexander-Arnold, however, the feeling has long been that Van Dijk is likelier to stay.
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Liverpool.com says: Whenever Van Dijk leaves, he will be a nightmare to replace. There is no better center-back in world soccer at the moment, and that is the high bar that will somehow need to be replicated.
Losing him in the same summer as Alexander-Arnold would be incredibly tough. If the Reds’ number 66 is to move on when his deal expires, that only makes keeping Van Dijk and Salah even more important.
There is lots to get done when the season comes to a close. Trying to replace three nailed-on starters who are arguably the best in the world in their respective positions at the same time would be near-impossible.
