Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has provided fans with a stark warning about Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future at the club.
The iconic midfielder expressed his concerns about potentially losing both stars to none other than Real Madrid. With van Dijk donning the captain’s armband under Arne Slot, and Alexander-Arnold continuing to impress with his creativity from the backline, they’re considered critical to Liverpool’s success.
But a twist in the tale looms as both players’ contracts are set to run out in June 2025, putting them at risk of walking away for nothing in nine months unless they pen new deals at Anfield.
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Souness, 71, is adamant that Liverpool can ill-afford to see three of their aces Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah exit this summer. Chatting on the Three Up Front podcast, he confessed, “Liverpool can’t let all three of Trent, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk leave.
“I could see Trent at Real Madrid, I could see Van Dijk there as well,” reports the Express. Souness also pointed out that Van Dijk, despite his age, remains a top-tier athlete good for several more stellar seasons.
Even against Madrid’s own Antonio Rudiger, Souness said: “He’s a better player than what Real already have in the likes of Antonio Rudiger. He’s more of a footballer, he’s a better athlete, better in the air and better on the ball. I wouldn’t even compare the two.”
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(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Liverpool’s top trio are in the midst of a contract conundrum, with both Salah and Van Dijk openly discussing the possibility of an Anfield exit. Following their 2-0 victory against Brentford, Van Dijk, aged 32, kept quiet on his ongoing contract negotiations but expressed he is “very calm” about the situation.
“I am very calm. I want to play the best season I can,” Van Dijk stated. “I want to stay important this year. Whatever happens next year, we will see.”
Salah, eyed up by Saudi Arabian clubs and subject to a rejected £150m offer from Al-Ittihad last summer, revealed to Sky Sports after thrashing Manchester United 3-0, that the club hasn’t proposed new terms despite his impressive 214-goal tally over seven years.
“I had a good summer, I had a long time to stay with myself and to think positive because as you know it’s my last year in the club,” Salah said. “I just want to enjoy it and I don’t want to think about it. But I feel I’m free to play football and we’ll see what can happen next year.”
Alexander-Arnold has kept quiet on the matter, but rumours suggest the 25 year old might be tempted by a move to the current Champions League winners.