Liverpool’s Contract Dilemmas: Jan Molby on Salah, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, and Díaz

Liverpool’s star-studded squad is at a critical juncture, with several high-profile contract situations demanding immediate attention. Speaking on the Molby on the Spot podcast, Liverpool legend Jan Molby and host Trev Downey delved into the club’s handling of ongoing negotiations with players such as Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, and Luis Díaz. Molby shared candid insights, offering a nuanced perspective on how these uncertainties could impact the team.

Salah’s Future Hangs in the Balance

The discussion centred heavily on Mohamed Salah, whose contract situation has dominated headlines. Salah’s comments following Liverpool’s last game hinted at his frustration with the lack of progress in negotiations. “Here’s a guy who wants to stay,” Molby stated, emphasising the Egyptian’s commitment to the club. “He’s desperate to stay—maybe desperate isn’t the right word—but his family wants to stay, and he delivers every game. He just wants this sorted.”

Molby criticised the slow pace of the discussions, explaining, “A certain amount of frustration is attached to the whole thing. Mo can’t do any more than he’s doing.” While Molby acknowledged that negotiations had likely occurred, he stressed that Liverpool must make their intentions clear soon.

“He’s probably thinking, ‘What more can I do?’ It’s time for Liverpool to make an offer, and we can’t have an offer that gets totally dismissed out of hand because that would be a bad start to negotiations.”

Trent and Van Dijk: Waiting for Clarity

The uncertainty surrounding Salah’s contract appears to be influencing the situations of other key players. Molby speculated that Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk may be waiting for clarity on Salah’s deal before committing to their own futures.

“I’ve heard from what I can call a reliable source that Virgil and Trent are waiting for Mo,” Molby revealed. “They would like to know how much Liverpool are paying the most important player in the club before they start negotiating.”

However, Molby expressed concern about Alexander-Arnold’s situation. “I have a terrible bad feeling about the Trent thing,” he admitted. “I’m not a pessimistic man, but I just don’t feel any positivity about that.”

Luis Díaz: Undervalued but Essential

The conversation also touched on Luis Díaz, whose contract is reportedly due for an upgrade. Despite his importance to the team, Díaz remains underpaid compared to some of his peers. “By the standards of the rest of the squad, he’s quite underpaid,” Molby pointed out, adding that a renewal and a salary bump are both overdue.

While Díaz’s negotiations seem more straightforward, the delay in addressing these matters adds to the perception of disorganisation at the club.

A Lack of Urgency from Liverpool

Molby and Downey also criticised the broader lack of urgency in resolving these contract situations. “Sometimes I’m impatient,” Molby admitted. “I’m going, ‘Stop messing about—let’s get it done.’”

The calm demeanour from Liverpool’s management, while often a strength, risks being perceived as complacency. Molby noted, “There doesn’t appear to be anyone at Liverpool panicking. They just go, ‘It is what it is.’ But for us, it’s frustrating because there are too many things up in the air.”

Conclusion: Time for Action

Liverpool’s handling of these key contract negotiations will have far-reaching implications for the club’s future. As Molby put it, “It would be the best thing for everybody to get this sorted.” The longer these uncertainties persist, the greater the risk of unsettling both the players involved and the wider squad.

As the club navigates this critical period, the insights shared by Molby on the Anfield Index podcast underscore the importance of swift, decisive action. With players like Salah, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, and Díaz central to Liverpool’s ambitions, the time to act is now.