Liverpool are facing the prospect of losing five senior squad members on free transfers next summer, with tough contract decisions looming for Alisson, Van Dijk and others
Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker of Liverpool
Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker of Liverpool(Image: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
The transfer window has only just shut, but Liverpool is already bracing itself for its next off-field headache; the amount of players in the final year of their contracts at Anfield.
Having watched Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and, most surprisingly, Ibrahima Konaté all depart the club on free transfers in recent months, the Reds risk losing yet another clutch of senior squad players in similar circumstances come the end of this campaign.
With all of them set to be in their 30s by the time their contracts run out — it recently came to light that Harvey Elliott remains contracted until 2028 — decisions over whom to retain and whom the club will be content to release are not quite as troubling as one might have anticipated, reports the Liverpool Echo.
That said, there will be some difficult choices to make, none more so than the situation surrounding goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
Despite Liverpool exercising their option to extend Alisson's deal by 12 months towards the close of last season, there had been a widespread expectation that the Brazil international could depart this summer, with Juventus emerging as his most probable destination.
That move never came to fruition, immediately casting doubt over the future of deputy Giorgi Mamardashvili. The Georgian, however, remains at Liverpool, with matters complicated still further by the Reds committing £30m to sign teenage goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans from Genk next year.
It's quite possible the decision hinges on Alisson and whether he fancies embarking on a fresh chapter in his career, considering he'll be nearing 35 by this time next year.
Liverpool's Joe Gomez is injured during the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Sunderland AFC
Joe Gomez is an injury concern for Liverpool(Image: (Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images))
Then there's the centre-back pairing of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez. Club captain Van Dijk continues to feature regularly but will turn 36 at the start of next season and has understandably displayed signs of his advancing years.
His wealth of experience, though, will undoubtedly be a factor in Liverpool's desire to retain him and help shape a backline in which 21-year-old Jeremy Jacquet and 19-year-old Giovanni Leoni are being groomed as future prospects.
Gomez, for his part, stands as Liverpool's longest-serving player, yet has struggled for minutes in recent campaigns owing to ill-timed injuries and the performances of fellow squad members.
His exit would come as less of a shock, as would those of left-back Kostas Tsimikas and defensive midfielder Wataru Endo. The main concern for the Reds regarding this trio, however, is that all three would require replacements.
Looking further ahead, with Rio Ngumoha anticipated to sign fresh terms imminently, that would leave Elliott, Alexis Mac Allister, Federico Chiesa and currently sidelined goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros as having just moved into the final two years of their contracts.
Mac Allister stands as the sole regular first-team performer from recent campaigns and might trigger a transfer decision akin to that of Curtis Jones' this summer. Different year, same problem.