Liverpool have seen a number of high-profile players leave at the end of their contracts in recent years, with club legend Roberto Firmino one of the latest.
The Brazilian called time on his Reds career this summer and has departed on a free transfer after eight trophy-laden years at Anfield. He wasn’t the only one, of course, with James Milner and Naby Keita joining Brighton & Hove Albion and Werder Bremen respectively on Bosman transfers, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also leaving at the end of his own contract.
Prior to the quartet, Divock Origi, Gini Wijnaldum, Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne, Daniel Sturridge, Alberto Moreno, and Emre Can would all leave Anfield once their own Liverpool deals expired.
Veteran pair Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip could join the ever-growing list next year with their own contracts set to expire in 2024. If Liverpool wish either star to extend their Anfield careers, they are running out of time to negotiate extensions, with the duo free to discuss pre-contract agreements with overseas clubs from January.
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While both have been loosely linked with speculative exits this summer, as things stand they look set to see out their contracts with the Reds. In truth, while still valuable players under Jurgen Klopp, there would be few complaints if either did move on at the end of their deals, given their injury records and the fact they will both be 33 come the start of the 2024/25 season.
But while their futures will be decided one way or the other during the final 12 months of their Liverpool deals, the Reds are likely to want to open negotiations with a number of stars with 2025 contract expiry dates in the months ahead.
As things stand, Jordan Henderson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Kostas Tsimikas, and Nat Phillips are all out of contract in two years’ time. While you would expect the latter to leave at the end of such a deal, if he hadn’t already moved on, it’s a different story elsewhere.
With regards to Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool should want to tie down his long-term for as soon as possible. The 24-year-old is yet to even reach his peak, and the Reds would be wise to ensure he has already penned an extension long before reaching the final 12 months of his contract.
After the right-back, Salah and Van Dijk are arguably Liverpool’s next priority with the pair still remaining two of the first names in Klopp's starting XI. The Egyptian became the best-paid player in the club’s history last summer, just as he was about to enter the final year of his deal, after a long-drawn-out saga.
While he will be 33 when his current deal expires, if still returning 30-goal seasons, there could be, despite links to Saudi Arabia, another year or two left in his Reds story yet. However, expect plenty of speculation in the meantime the closer his contract gets to its end, with both player and club perhaps being forgiven if they start to feel a sense of deja vu.
With regard to Van Dijk, now aged 31, Liverpool’s interest in signing a new left-sided centre-back suggests they are starting consider a future beyond the Dutchman as they look for a long-term replacement. Yet, set to be the new Reds vice-captain after Milner’s exit, that doesn’t mean they’ll willingly wave him off anytime soon.
Admittedly not at his best last season, like many of his team-mates, if Liverpool wish to retain his services then you imagine they won’t let his contract enter its final 12 months.
Club captain Henderson last extended his contract until 2021 after speculation suggesting he could move on, agreeing terms on a new four-year deal. Now aged 33, the England international is reaching a new stage of his Anfield career.
Set to be 35 when his contract expires, he will no longer be a guaranteed starter for Klopp’s side. However, as Milner has proven in recent years, the veteran can continue to be a valuable squad player if he is content with such a role and delivering to a high enough standard. Otherwise, he will follow in the footsteps of the likes of Lallana and Milner in becoming the latest ageing star to continue his career elsewhere at the end of his contract.
As for Tsimikas, suggestions that Liverpool could look to sell the Greek this summer have so far been dismissed, despite the sight of left-back crying after the final Anfield match of the season against Aston Villa last month setting tongues wagging about his future.
Now 27, the Greece international is entering his peak years yet remains understudy to Andy Robertson at Anfield. The Reds’ recent change of system resulting in the need for a more defensive left-back to complement Alexander-Arnold’s inverted full-back also presents questions about his long-term future.
Aged 29 when his current contract expires, it would not be a surprise if Liverpool did look to cash in on the Greek before the summer of 2025, otherwise he could also join the list of their high-profile Bosman exits.
As the hexet enter the final two years of their respective contracts, it will soon be decision time for club bosses as they weigh up what's best for Liverpool. Ultimately, they must decide whether they open negotiations as soon as possible to secure such players' futures, if they wish to cash in on any of the aforementioned players while they still can, or if they're content continuing as they are, with the risk of losing yet more first team stars for nothing at the end of their contracts hanging overhead.
