Following news of Mohamed Salah signing a new two year contract at Liverpool, this for me, is arguably the biggest and best piece of business the club has done for quite a while and definitely sets up an interesting summer.
With Virgil Van Dijk also rumoured to be close to a new deal as well, this also adds to the positive feeling around Anfield right now as the club draws nearer to winning what looks likely to be the Premier League title.
Arne Slot has already intimated that the club will do business in the summer, though the question is, will these two new deals affect the type of players that he wants to bring in.
It is no secret that the club want a centre forward, with question marks hanging over the future of Darwin Nunez, while Luis Diaz has been linked to Barcelona, so another wideman could be on the agenda.
I definitely think the club will splash the cash this summer. Especially having only brought in two, albeit fringe players last summer, it seems that there will be somewhat of an overhaul, regardless of new contracts and whether the club wins the Premier League.
Will A Salah Backup Be Signed?
If Salah was leaving, I would not have been surprised to see the club at least attempt to bring in a top quality replacement – Alexander Isak has been mentioned, but I think Newcastle’s price tag of £150 million is too much probably for any Premier League side to want to spend.
Now I’m thinking with Salah staying, he is likely to continue to play a major role – at least for the next season, but maybe they’ll try to bring in someone now, with potential to groom him into being Salah’s eventual replacement.
I’m not actually sure that there is anyone currently good enough in world football and for the right price to come in and replace Salah right now anyway, which is why I’m sure the club decided to offer him a new contract.
However, the fact that he is staying I think, means that it could drive momentum in the summer. Should both Diaz and Nunez leave, then Salah could be operating in a completely new front three next season and, no doubt they’ll be looking forward to playing with the Premier League’s top scorer.
There are few options that are reportedly being looked into – Brighton’s Joao Pedro being one of them, who is enjoying a sterling season on the south coast and could fit in nicely through the middle.
On the left, it seems that Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, dubbed ‘the next Sadio Mane’ has caught the attention of the Reds in addition to their highly rated left-back Milos Kerkez.
Whatever happens in the summer, Salah’s contract renewal could certainly play a key influence in this.
