Arne Slot has expressed empathy for Liverpool fans worried about the possibility of losing key players Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold on free transfers next summer.
All three have been instrumental for the Premier League leaders this season, but they are eligible to negotiate pre-contract agreements with clubs outside England starting January 1.
Recently, Alexander-Arnold has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, with speculation intensifying during the international break.
Salah mentioned after Liverpool’s 3-0 victory against Manchester United in early September that he had not yet been approached regarding new contract terms.
Meanwhile, captain Van Dijk stated there was no update on his situation after the friendly win over Sevilla at Anfield in early August.
Slot acknowledges that fans have a right to feel uneasy about the contracts of these star players.
However, he believes their performances demonstrate their commitment to the club.
He shared these thoughts in an interview with Sky Sports ahead of Liverpool’s upcoming match against Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday.
Arne Slot said: “Maybe even if you know the full picture I can understand that Liverpool fans feels the anxiety because all three have been really important for us for years and still this year.
“On the other hand I would focus on what I see [which is] that these players still bring out the best possible performances. So maybe we are in a good place.
“We would have been in a far worse place if they had the same contract situation and were not playing good anymore and everyone would say it is all about the contract situation.
“But at this moment I am very, very happy with what they are doing and that’s my main concern more than the long-term concern about next year.”
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