New Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk Liverpool contract lengths after major ‘breakthrough’

The news that almost all Liverpool fans will have been craving for the last number of months arrived on Thursday with widespread reports claiming key pair Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk were closing in on new deals at the club.

Salah and Van Dijk, along with right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, are all out of contract at Anfield at the end of the season. Alexander-Arnold has been strongly tipped to join Real Madrid as a free agent ahead of next campaign. However, Salah and Van Dijk are now both set to stay with a number of reports on Thursday claiming Liverpool were increasingly confident of finalising fresh terms with the pair.

The news can provide the Reds with a major boost heading into the final seven games of the campaign as they look to rack up the required points to confirm themselves as Premier League champions.

Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk new contract lengths

David Ornstein of The Athletic provided more detailed information on the contract situation of Salah and Van Dijk, as he revealed that the pair are poised to both sign new two-year deals. It would keep them at the club until the summer of 2027.

He wrote on X: “Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk closing in on signing new 2yr [sic] contracts with Liverpool. Both players into final months of existing deals but breakthrough found in negotiations & fresh terms set to extend key pair at Liverpool until summer 2027.”

While Liverpool look closer to signing Salah and Van Dijk on new deals, Alexander-Arnold appears no closer to remaining with his boyhood club as he continues to be pursued by Real Madrid. All three players have been free to speak to foreign clubs since January 1 and agree a pre-contract ahead of next season.

Speaking last week after a 3-2 loss to Fulham, Van Dijk said of his contract, stating: "There is progress, yeah. I don't know [if I'll stay], we'll see. Listen, these are internal discussions and we'll see. I love the club, I love the fans and they were there for us again and we wanted to reward them.”

How important are Salah and Van Dijk to Liverpool?

While the pair are entering the latter years of their respective careers, there is no doubting the quality that both men still possess. Salah turns 33 and Van Dijk will be 34 by the time next season rolls around but neither of the duo have shown signs of droppinf off this season. Van Dijk has played the most out of any Liverpool player in all competitions with Salah right behind him in the minutes played rankings.

Salah has scored a remarkable 32 goals and provided 22 assists in all competitions. His goal tally is double that of Liverpool’s second best goalscorer Cody Gakpo. Van Dijk has provided an assured presence in the heart of the Liverpool defence this season as he looks to become only the second player to captain the club to a league title in the Premier League era.

Speaking about the defender earlier in the season, Reds boss Arne Slot said: "He deserves every compliment he gets. He's been outstanding for this club for so many years and since I've been working here, he's been outstanding for me. He wants, like all the others, to make it a great season. I hope I can enjoy working with him for a long time - I don't think that's a surprise."