Salah, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk: Ornstein drops Liverpool contract update

Tom Weber

• Updated: 1 Mar 2025 14:05 GMT
• 3 min read

David Ornstein has provided a significant update on the state of play in Liverpool's contract negotiations with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The Reds are in the midst of a historic first season under new head coach Arne Slot. Yet despite their dominance on the pitch, one major topic off the pitch has caused some consternation in the fanbase.

Three star players and club legends are out of contract in the summer and they still have not been tied down to new deals despite just four months remaining until they officially become free agents.

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Mohamed Salah, who is on course to break seemingly every conceivable record in terms of goal contributions this year, captain Virgil van Dijk and vice-captain Trent Alexander Arnold are all set to leave Liverpool in the summer as things stand.

Negotiations with the trio have been ongoing for months and David Ornstein of The Athletic has now provided a big update on the situation.

Salah, Van Dijk to stay, Trent to leave?

The transfer insider was quizzed on the topic during a Q&A session and revealed that the 'consensus' is that Salah and Van Dijk will extend their contracts while Alexander-Arnold could be on his way to Real Madrid, who have been courting him for a year.

"Talks continue and there has long been optimism around Anfield regarding Salah and Van Dijk," Ornstein said. "I’m not aware of agreements being reached, but both players seem keen to stay and are playing out of their skin - plus as far as we know Liverpool absolutely want to keep both.

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"As they do Alexander-Arnold, but we all know his situation is different; he is younger and has Real Madrid knocking at his door. The consensus around the industry is that maybe Salah and Van Dijk will renew, while perhaps Alexander-Arnold will go. But nothing appears to be set in stone yet."