Arne Slot is pushing for a new contract for defender Virgil van Dijk, but it seems unlikely that he can retain Trent Alexander-Arnold or star player Mohamed Salah. Van Dijk’s contract is set to expire next summer, and he has yet to make any statements regarding his future. According to the Mirror, the new Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, is a supporter in the contract negotiations with Van Dijk.
The Mirror reports: “Slot has been very impressed with his captain both on and off the pitch since taking over at Anfield last summer from Jurgen Klopp. However, Van Dijk will become a free agent next summer and can negotiate with foreign clubs starting in January.
Liverpool has been cautious about offering contract extensions to players over 30—Van Dijk will be 34 when next season begins. Nonetheless, Slot has long admired his fellow Dutchman and recognizes that the Liverpool captain seems to still be at his peak, even as he is being asked to play a more advanced midfield role compared to his previous seasons under Klopp. Last week, Van Dijk acknowledged that there had been no breakthroughs in the talks about extending his contract beyond 2025. He is reportedly seeking a two-year deal but wants to see how Slot manages the team following Klopp’s departure.
Liverpool also faces contract situations with Salah and Alexander-Arnold, both of whom are out of contract next year. Losing any of these three stars without a replacement would be a significant blow.
While Salah has indicated that the club hasn’t discussed a contract extension with him, suggesting that this season might be his last, Alexander-Arnold has also turned down a renewal offer from Liverpool. His current contract at Anfield expires next summer, and at 25, he seems to be competing for a starting spot, having only completed a full 90 minutes in one Premier League match this season.
According to Spanish outlet SPORT, Alexander-Arnold has not extended his deal with Liverpool, although sporting director Richard Hughes is trying to convince him to stay. Amid these uncertainties, La Liga champions Real Madrid are reportedly keen on the English defender and have made contact with him and his representative.
If the reports of Alexander-Arnold rejecting a contract extension with Liverpool are accurate, Real Madrid is expected to make a move to sign him as a free agent next summer, and the player himself is open to a club change. Recently, French outlet L’Equipe revealed that Alexander-Arnold is interested in buying FC Nantes through an investment company owned by his father. Nantes owner Waldemar Kita is looking to sell the club due to unfavorable TV rights agreements in Ligue 1 and other factors.
However, sources close to Alexander-Arnold have denied these rumors, with journalist James Pearce from The Athletic confirming that they are false. Kita himself stated, “Trent Alexander-Arnold? I don’t even know who he is! I just spoke with my lawyer and asked, ‘Who is this person?’ He told me that his father works in finance and they have a few players along with some other agents…”
