Sources: Liverpool close to agreeing contract for ‘£100m’ star…

Sources: Liverpool nearing contract agreement for ‘£100m’ star.

Liverpool is making significant progress towards finalizing a new contract for Virgil van Dijk, following Mohamed Salah’s recent extension at Anfield.

In the latest episode of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke indicated that both contracts are effectively valued at over £100 million each, considering the expenses involved in securing direct replacements in the transfer market.

Despite Salah and Van Dijk being 32 and 33 years old, respectively, they continue to be integral to Arne Slot’s future plans, with Van Dijk expected to sign a two-year deal similar to Salah’s.

Salah’s new contract was officially announced on April 11, and the Reds’ captain is anticipated to follow suit after months of speculation.

Throughout the season, the club maintained confidence regarding the futures of both star players, especially after Football Insider reported in December that Salah and Van Dijk were set to renew their commitments to Liverpool.

However, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s potential transfer to Real Madrid has posed a challenge, as the initial plan was for all three players to secure their futures with the club.

Liverpool is encouraged by the new contracts for Van Dijk and Salah, especially with the uncertainty surrounding their futures prompting the club to explore potential replacements.

On February 28, Football Insider disclosed that Liverpool is actively seeking a new centre-back and has identified several candidates for the role.

Regardless of their captain’s situation, the Reds are expected to pursue a new centre-back, as Slot believes the defense requires strengthening.

Additionally, Football Insider reported that Liverpool is interested in signing West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen as a possible replacement for Salah and an alternative to Alexander Isak.

The renewal of contracts for both Salah and Van Dijk is a significant boost for Liverpool as they aim for the Premier League title as the season draws to a close.

Arne Slot is preparing for a significant transformation of his first-team roster at Anfield.

Although the contract updates regarding Salah and Van Dijk are encouraging, Liverpool is actively strategizing for a possible revamp of their squad.

Mick Brown, a former chief scout for Manchester United, informed Football Insider that up to ten key players may depart from Liverpool within the next two to three years, indicating a substantial rebuilding effort ahead.

Players such as Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Van Dijk, Andy Robertson, and Kostas Tsimikas have been identified as potential departures in the coming years.

Additionally, there are ongoing discussions about the long-term prospects of Salah, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, and Diogo Jota at Anfield.