Liverpool Rumours: New contracts for entire front three ‘not realistic’ and three more big stories at Liverpool you might have missed
New contracts for all of front three ‘not realistic’
Roberto Firmino is in the biggest danger of the trio, as Mo Salah is the priority, followed by Sadio Mane, according to The Athletic.
The attackers are all 29 years old. The Reds understand that the forwards will be past their prime in several years’ time and want to find replacements.
And with their deals expiring in 2023, the club has to make some tough decisions.
Salah is the most likely to be given a new deal and Mane is next in line for the renewal. Firmino is the most ‘vulnerable’ of all three as younger Diogo Jota impressed last season.
If the Brazilian does not get a new deal, there is a chance he could be sold next summer.
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FSG planning big campaign next year
The next summer will be the time to start refreshing the squad in a significant way – which does not mean there will be no more signings this summer, The Athletic adds.
This summer, the market is in a poor state because of the pandemic but the economy is expected to bounce back next year.
Hence this summer’s transfer campaign will be primarily about keeping the key players at the club and extending their deals.
It does not mean that Liverpool won’t buy new players this summer though. But they need to sell players such as Neco Williams and Harry Wilson before signing anyone.
Liverpool has already signed Ibrahima Konate for £36m.
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Marko Grujic returned to Porto for around £10m, while Taiwo Awoniyi will continue at Union Berlin as a result of a £6.5m deal.
Van Dijk and Gomez unlikely to feature in next friendly
Jurgen Klopp has said he will be surprised if the two centre-backs will be fit enough to play on Friday against Mainz.
“It would be a surprise, to me as well,” Jurgen Klopp told the official Liverpool website when asked if Virgil van Dijk or Joe Gomez might appear in the Reds’ next friendly against Mainz.
“They have looked really good in training and yesterday was the first day where they did very complex things, usually it is either offensive or defensive and stuff like this.
“We have to get there, step-by-step, but I don’t expect them for Friday.”
Both Van Dijk and Gomez were injured for many months due to their knee ligament injuries and only rejoined the squad at the start of this pre-season camp.
The two centre-backs watched from the stands as their teammates played two 1-1 draws with Wacker Innsbruck and Stuttgart on 20/07/2021.
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