Expectations growing that Mohamed Salah will sign new Liverpool deal

There is a growing expectation Mohamed Salah will commit his future to Liverpool following prolonged contract talks.

Liverpool’s title bid has been dominated by weekly bulletins around the futures of Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, all of whom are out of contract this summer.

The broad expectation has been that the senior players will stay, while Real Madrid have been proactive in trying to lure Alexander-Arnold towards a Bosman move to Spain.

In the absence of any formal agreement for any of the trio – none is yet to put pen to paper for Liverpool or sign a pre-contract for any other club ahead of next season – updates have been limited to the players’ occasional interviews and social media posts.

Throughout the process, Liverpool have remained optimistic their big names will opt to stay on Merseyside to build on Arne Slot’s impressive debut campaign.

In the case of Salah and Van Dijk, those hopes are intensifying, with the duo edging closer to an agreement that will ensure they remain part of Slot’s side heading into next season. Liverpool have been anticipating a decision before the end of this campaign, rather than allow it to drag on until June, and all the indications are that the outcome will be positive with their right-sided attacker and Dutch captain.

Salah has been open about his wish to prolong his Anfield career since the beginning of the campaign when he made the first of many public statements expressing the view this would be his “last” on Merseyside. That was read as an appeal to the Liverpool hierarchy to negotiate fresh terms more than outright declaration his time at the club would soon be over.

The fact talks were continuing throughout this season was a clear signal of the desire for both parties to extend their relationship. Salah is on course to join Sir Kenny Dalglish, Steven Gerrard and Ian Rush among the greatest footballers to ever wear a Liverpool jersey.

The same could be said of captain Van Dijk, whose leadership this season is one of the reasons Liverpool are 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League with seven games remaining.

Van Dijk revealed on Saturday he had made “progress” in determining his future, the most positive public update for months.

Despite being in their 30s, Salah and Van Dijk remain among the best players in the world. The dilemma both have faced nearing the end of their deals is whether to commit to their current club where they can anticipate competing for the Premier League and Champions League again next season, or accept potentially more lavish contracts at other clubs who might not be so competitive, or play in such illustrious leagues.

It is well known, for example, that the Saudi Pro League is keen to attract players of such calibre, with Salah especially a long-term target.

But the Egyptian knows that he will still be coveted by the Saudis for as long as he is playing football. The last 12 months have demonstrated he is far from ready to wind down at the highest level of the European game.

While the mood is more positive around Salah and Van Dijk, it remains to be seen what decision Alexander-Arnold will take, despite claims he has made up his mind to move to the Bernabeu. Recent suggestions Alexander-Arnold has already pledged his future to Real were emphatically dismissed by those with knowledge of the current state of negotiations, but there is a fear Liverpool are fighting a losing battle to keep him.