General Football Thread

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Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah signs contract extension till 2027​

Reuters
April 11, 2025

Liverpool’s Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring the team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League league stage football match against Bologna at Anfield in Liverpool, UK on October 2, 2024. — AFP/File


Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has ended months of speculation about his future by signing a two-year contract extension at Anfield, the Premier League leaders said on Friday.

The 32-year-old, who joined the club in 2017 from AS Roma, could have left the club for free in the summer with his contract previously set to expire in June.

“I’m very excited. We have a great team now. Before also we had a great team. But I signed because I think we have a chance to win other trophies and enjoy my football,” Salah said in a club statement.

“It’s great, I had my best years here. I played [for] eight years, hopefully, it’s going to be 10. Enjoying my life here, enjoying my football.”

He paid tribute to the club’s fans and pledged to keep working hard to bring them results. “Keep supporting us and we’ll give it our best, and hopefully in the future we’re going to win more trophies.”

Salah is Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer of all time with 243 goals in 394 games. In his eight years at the club, Liverpool has won a Premier League title — most likely about to become two titles — as well as one Champions League crown, an FA Cup, two League Cups, the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

He has been a standout performer for Liverpool this season, scoring 32 goals in all competitions and leads the race for the Premier League’s Golden Boot with 27 goals.

Liverpool are 11 points clear of second-placed Arsenal with seven games left to play.

‘The story will continue’​

“My family also feels at home, we enjoy every moment in this city and every moment in the club,” Salah said.

“It’s a special moment always when we play at Anfield. There is no place like that. The warmth you feel inside the song before the game. Every time I score a goal and they sing my song, it is something special, and the story will continue.”

British media reported on Wednesday that Liverpool had made a breakthrough in negotiations over a new deal for the Egypt international after months of deadlock.

Salah was reported to be the subject of interest from the big-money Saudi Pro League but is widely seen as key to Liverpool’s hopes of consistently winning silverware given his own consistency over the years.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said he had known for a while that Salah would be extending his deal but understands the relief Liverpool fans have felt after the announcement.

“For the fans, it was a pleasant surprise. But I knew for a bit longer that things were heading in the right direction,” he told reporters in a news conference ahead of Sunday’s Premier League home game against West Ham United.

“Happy, of course. He has shown at this club for so many years in a row how much of a value he is for the club and the team. As like all our fans and his team-mates, we are very happy that he has extended for two more years.

“And hopefully, he can show on Sunday again how important he has been for us all season.” Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is also being tipped to extend his stay on Merseyside, while full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has been linked with a move to Real Madrid.

 

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Salah laps up contract acclaim - now Van Dijk may follow 'next week'​

Mohamed Salah was given immense ovations both before the game and when he came off for Liverpool in the second half

Emma Smith
BBC Sport journalist at Anfield


While any player's worth to a football team has to be measured in more than statistics, Mohamed Salah's goal and assist numbers show exactly why he is worth pretty much any amount of money a week for Liverpool.

With his assist for Luis Diaz to open the scoring against West Ham on Sunday, Salah has now been directly involved in 45 Premier League goals this season - netting 27 and providing another 18.

This is a new record for a player in a 38-game season, surpassing Thierry Henry from 2002-03 and Erling Haaland's total two years ago. Salah is now 15 goal involvements clear of any other player in Europe's top five leagues in 2024-25.

Sunday also showed how important Alisson and Virgil van Dijk are as Liverpool close in on the league title - but without Salah, there most likely would be no title at all.

 

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Liverpool’s Van Dijk commits future to club, signs two-year contract​

AFP
April 17, 2025

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk signing a new two-year contract. Photo courtesy: Liverpool/Instagram


Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk on Thursday committed his future to the Premier League club, signing a new two-year contract.

The Dutch defender follows Mohamed Salah in ending months of speculation by extending his stay at Anfield, with fans preparing to celebrate winning the English Premier League title.

“I’m very happy, very proud,” said Van Dijk who, like Salah, would have been out of contract at the end of the season.

“There are so many emotions obviously that go through my head right now speaking about it.

“It’s a proud feeling, it’s a feeling of joy. It’s just incredible. The journey I’ve had so far in my career, to be able to extend it with another two years at this club is amazing and I’m so happy.”

Van Dijk, who has made 314 appearances for Liverpool, said last month that he had “no idea” if he would remain at Anfield but on Sunday hinted that he was set to carry on.

The imposing centre-back, 33, had been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain but said his heart had been set on staying at Liverpool.

“It was always Liverpool,” he said. “That was the case. It was always in my head, it was always the plan and it was always Liverpool.

“There wasn’t any doubt in my head that this is the place to be for me and my family. I’m one of Liverpool. Someone called me the other day an adopted Scouser — I’m really proud to hear these things, it gives me a great feeling.”

Van Dijk, who arrived from Southampton in January 2018, has been instrumental in Liverpool’s rise back to the top of the English and European game.

He won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, two League Cups, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup under former manager Jurgen Klopp.

With new deals confirmed for Salah and Van Dijk, the future of England defender Trent Alexander-Arnold remains unresolved.

Alexander-Arnold, who returned to Liverpool training on Wednesday after a month out because of injury, is out of contract at the end of the season and has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid.

Liverpool, in Arne Slot’s first season in charge, are on the brink of winning a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title.

The Reds are 13 points clear of Arsenal with just six games remaining and could wrap up the title this weekend if the Gunners lose.

 

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'Not the time to discuss future' - Alonso on Real Madrid links​

, Getty Images

Xabi Alonso won 14 trophies during his club career, plus the World Cup and two European Championships with Spain

Tom Mallows
BBC Sport journalist
18 April 2025


Xabi Alonso says it is "not a good time" to discuss his future after the Bayer Leverkusen boss was linked with Real Madrid.

The 43-year-old is reportedly a candidate to succeed Carlo Ancelotti should the Italian leave Real at the end of the season.

Alonso is highly regarded after leading Leverkusen to the double of a Bundesliga title without losing a game and the German Cup in his first full season as a senior club manager last year.

"It's not a good time to discuss the future. We're at a very important moment in the season," said Alonso, whose Leverkusen side are six points behind Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich with five games left.

 

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Big summer if Liverpool keep team together - Slot​

Getty Images

Alexander-Arnold will be able to leave Liverpool as a free agent this summer when his contract runs out

Mandeep Sanghera
BBC Sport journalist

Arne Slot believes keeping his Liverpool team together would mark a "big summer" for the club as he insisted Trent Alexander-Arnold's future is still "not done".

The Reds have secured captain Virgil van Dijk and leading scorer Mohamed Salah on new two-year deals, but there is uncertainty around the future of right-back Alexander Arnold because his contract expires in the summer.

"It's already a big summer now," said Slot. "It was a big thing - 'can we hold on to them?'.

"And by holding on already to two, it's already a big summer and let's see what the rest of the summer will bring.

"It would be strange for me to say now I'm not happy with the team we have, because I've said it for a year so we are happy with the team we have. Maybe if we can even keep that team that would already be a big summer."

Asked about Alexander-Arnold's situation, head coach Slot said: "Let's see what the future brings."

The England defender is wanted by Real Madrid, who have endured a troubling week.

Knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage by Arsenal, the future of Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is in question and Spanish football expert Guillem Balague says the Bernabeu side are "in need of refreshing".

Alexander-Arnold could be on the bench for Liverpool's league game at Leicester City on Sunday following just over five weeks out with an ankle injury.

Although Slot maintained his position of not discussing the contractual situations of players, the Dutchman praised the quality and attitude of the 26-year-old.