As much as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s impending departure will come as a blow to Liverpool, the club at least has all the answers to what was an almost unprecedented contract saga – although an even bigger one may be lying in wait in the not-too-distant future.
The Reds’ vice-captain has of course made his decision to leave the club, with a move to Real Madrid surely now just a matter of time. If he wasn’t already aware of just how unpopular a decision that was, he’ll be in no doubt now after the reception he got at Anfield on Sunday.
Alexander-Arnold’s exit is undoubtedly a blow for Arne Slot, although the situation could have been much worse had Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah not chosen to extend their stays.
There will be a sense of relief for the Liverpool boss and sporting director Richard Hughes that such a big saga is now out of the way. You’re never too far away from the next drama in soccer though.
Already, there are rumblings over the future of Ibrahima Konate, who now becomes the most pressing matter for the Reds with his contract expiring next year. What’s more, reports suggest Real might be trying to lure him into following Alexander-Arnold’s lead in 12 months’ time.
As things stand, three other players are set to be out of contract in 2026. Of those, Caoimhin Kelleher looks likely to be on the move this summer, while fellow goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros may have similar ambitions of getting more game time.
Andy Robertson is also on the list, and a decision will need to be made there, especially with it looking like a new left-back will be sought this summer.
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But a far, far worse situation looks as though it could be lying in wait in 2027, with a staggering 12 players set to be out of contract then.
That of course includes Van Dijk and Salah after signing their new deals, and plenty of other big names are on the list.
Luis Diaz, Curtis Jones, Diogo Jota, Harvey Elliott, Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley, Kostas Tsimikas, Wataru Endo and Stefan Bajcetic are also in danger of walking away for nothing then as things stand.
There is also the unique case of Alisson Becker, who is under contract until next year, although Liverpool holds the option of an extra year. Whether they take it will likely depend on Slot’s plans for Giorgi Mamardashvili, who will soon be arriving on Merseyside.
Whatever way you look at it though, that is certainly not an ideal situation to be in, and it leaves Liverpool with a mountain of work over the next 24 months.
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Of course, there are some players we can likely cross off the list already. Assuming a new left-back comes in this summer, you would assume Tsimikas might be moved on, while Gomez may choose to move on soon, having come close to an exit last summer.
Endo will be 34 by then, and there have been suggestions he could be moved on beforehand. Elliott has also been linked with a transfer away, although he still seems determined to prove himself at Anfield.
Even if those four depart, that still leaves EIGHT key players who could all become free agents in the summer of 2027, all of whom can lay a claim to being in Slot’s first-team.
Hughes will have to get down to work quickly then. Konate needs to be first on his list, before he tackles the mountain of contracts ending in two years.
