Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are closing in on new two-year contracts at Liverpool.
Both players had entered the final months of their existing deals but a breakthrough in negotiations has been reached and the pair are set to sign new terms through to June 2027.
The Athletic reported on December 4 that Liverpool had made a contract offer to Van Dijk, although at that stage it had fallen below his expectations and there was yet to be a breakthrough on deal value or length.
The Athletic reported on December 8 that Liverpool had made an opening contract offer to Salah. At that stage, despite confidence around Anfield that the 32-year-old would stay, an agreement was not agreed or close and uncertainty remained around his long-term future.
Salah and Van Dijk are two of three key Liverpool players out of contract in the summer, alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold, with Real Madrid working to close a deal to sign the right-back on a free transfer in the summer.
Van Dijk offered the strongest indication yet that he was set to stay at Liverpool beyond the end of his existing deal after Sunday’s Premier League defeat by Fulham, stating “progress” had been made in protracted negotiations.
In August, Van Dijk said he was no closer to agreeing terms with the club following Arne Slot’s arrival as Jurgen Klopp’s successor. In October, the 33-year-old stopped taking questions about his future in interviews, saying he was only interested in discussing matters on the pitch.
Salah had previously said he was “probably more out than in” when he stopped for a rare post-match chat with reporters following Liverpool’s 3-2 win over Southampton on November 24, adding that he was disappointed a formal offer had not been made at that point.
The Egypt international has enjoyed another fine season for Liverpool and has scored 32 goals in all competitions. Since joining Liverpool from Roma in 2017, he has won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup. His 243 goals in 394 appearances make him the club’s third all-time top scorer.
Van Dijk, meanwhile, joined Liverpool during the 2017-18 January transfer window in a then-club-record £75million (now $96m) move from Southampton. The centre-back has won the Premier League, Champions League, two League Cups and one FA Cup during his seven-year spell at Anfield. He was made captain at the start of last season following Jordan Henderson’s departure.
Liverpool are top of the Premier League and return to action on Sunday against West Ham United.
‘The perfect boost for Liverpool’ – analysis
By Liverpool correspondent James Pearce
Resolving contract situations regarding key personnel was one of the biggest challenges Richard Hughes inherited when he started work as Liverpool sporting director just over a year ago.
It’s been a long road but with Salah and Van Dijk on the brink of signing two-year extensions, it will provide the perfect boost for Arne Slot’s side as they close in on being crowned Premier League champions. There has always been confidence internally at Anfield that the duo would stay put.
Alexander-Arnold, whose current deal also expires this summer, was a different case given his age and the fact that he had Madrid pursuing him. The 26-year-old England international is expected to complete a free transfer to the Bernabeu.
However, Salah and Van Dijk had both made it clear publicly that their preference was to remain at Anfield and their performances over the course of 2024-25 strengthened their hand in negotiations.
Salah has scored 32 goals and contributed 22 assists in 45 appearances in all competitions, while Van Dijk has been the defensive rock on which Liverpool’s title challenge has been built. The Dutchman’s leadership also makes him a huge asset.
Owner Fenway Sports Group has previously been reluctant to hand out lucrative new deals to players in the twilight of their careers. However, Salah, who will be 33 in June, and Van Dijk, who turns 34 in July, have proved they still have so much to offer.
(Top photo: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
