Danny Murphy is confident one of Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah will be a Liverpool player next season.
The pair are into the final three months of their existing contracts and, as of yet, no agreement has been found to extend their stays at Anfield.
GettyMohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are set to leave Anfield this summer, as things stand[/caption]
The futures of both players has been the primary topic of discussion around Liverpool’s off-field matters, together with Trent Alexander-Arnold who has agreed to join Real Madrid on a free transfer.
However, on the pitch, all contractual talk has been put to the side as the Reds have cantered to top spot in the Premier League and sit on the precipice of a record-equalling 20th league title.
And judging by the performance of the two talismanic figures, you’d be forgiven for thinking they were tied down at the club for the next five seasons.
But that is far from the case and the star duo could be heading for the Anfield exit door if an agreement is not reached in the coming weeks.
With academy graduate and local hero Alexander-Arnold also heading for the exit door, Liverpool’s Fenway Sports Group owners have hardly left themselves in a position of strength when it comes to player contracts.
Despite that, former Liverpool midfielder Murphy believes Van Dijk will ink a new deal at the club, but he remains uncertain on the future of the Egyptian King.
“I’ve got a good feeling Virgil will stay,” Murphy said with a wry smile on the latest episode of talkSPORT’s new YouTube show, Inside Liverpool.
“I don’t know anything for sure but what I’m saying is I’ve heard enough good positive things from the people I do know.
“I don’t know about Mo, I’d be less confident on that one.”
The club’s delayed decision on the future of their stars hinges on two things – age and wage demands.
Salah, although still at the peak of his powers, turns 33 in June while Van Dijk celebrates his 34th birthday a month later.
Little is known about the players’ salary expectations but owner John W. Henry and his associates are unlikely to make any final decisions based on sentiment.
Conversely, Van Dijk and Salah must do what is in their own best interests with both players likely to attract plenty of interest if it becomes clear that they will leave Anfield.
Salah has long been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia after the Reds rebuffed an offer from the Middle East late in last summer’s transfer window.
Meanwhile, the rumours have already begun linking Van Dijk with moves to Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
With both players still in exceptional form most would expect a similar level of performance next season whichever club that may be at.
The Reds can point to the high-profile departures of big names such as Philippe Coutinho, Luis Suarez, Fernando Torres and Michael Owen who were all in their prime at the time of their departures only for the club to continue its upwards trajectory.
However, the added loss of Alexander-Arnold in addition to Salah and Van Dijk could land a huge blow to the club ahead of next season’s almost-certain title defence.
