Liverpool are working hard to tie down three of their most importants players to new deals but talks are 'stalling' with one of them, according to a new report.
As they continue to impress in all competitions under new manager Arne Slot, the uncertainty around Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold continues to simmer in the background.
Salah, who is the highest paid player in Liverpool's history on a reported £350,000-a-week, is currently in the final year of his contract.
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After scoring the winner against Brighton last weekend, the Egyptian forward shared a much-talked-about message on social media as he talked up Liverpool's chances of winning the league.
"Thank you for your support last night," he said in the post on X, formerly Twitter. "No matter what happens, I will never forget what scoring at Anfield feels like."
Van Dijk, meanwhile, has confirmed that discussions are "ongoing" regarding a new deal. "We will see what happens in the future," he added.
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"My full focus is on Liverpool, wanting to win games that are ahead of me and nothing else. What the future will bring I have no idea at the moment. I can only tell you that discussions have been started up and we will see."
So what about Trent Alexander-Arnold? With nine months remaining on his current deal, the boyhood Liverpool fan has yet to make a decision regarding the next step in his career.
The Reds are keen to initiate contract negotiations with the England international but Real Madrid have held ‘several’ discussions with the defender's entourage over a transfer, according to Spanish outlet Relevo.
Now, it has emerged that contract talks are 'stalling' because Liverpool are reluctant to offer him higher wages than Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.
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That's according to The Sun, who claim Liverpool are aware that offering Alexander-Arnold the biggest deal of the three could 'cause ructions' as they enter the halfway stage of the season.
It has also emerged that Liverpool have made 'several offers' to improve his current £180,000-a-week deal but an agreement has yet to be reached.
“I want to win trophies," Alexander-Arnold recently said. "I’m a player who is highly motivated by winning things and being elite. That’s probably the main factor of anything. I want to win."
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He added on his future: “I have always said I want to captain the club. That is a goal of mine, whether that happens is out of my hands. I want to be a Liverpool player this season (as a minimum) is what I will say."
Thoughts on Alexander-Arnold's future? Let us know in the comments.
Topics: Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk, Premier League