Jamie Carragher has revealed why he is convinced Virgil van Dijk will sign a new contract at Liverpool, predicting he will follow in the footsteps of an all-time great – while sharing his contrasting verdicts on what the future holds for Mohamed Salah and Trent. Alexandre-Arnold.

Van Dijk, Salah and Alexander-Arnold are all in the final year of their contracts at Liverpoolbut three of their most important players remain. This has therefore become a major subject that Richard Hughes must try to resolve.

Salah has been chased by the Saudi Pro League in recent years, while Alexander-Arnold is a target for Real Madrid and Van Dijk would also have no shortage of suitors if he became available.

But Carragher suggested top clubs might not line up for either. Indeed, he is convinced the chances of Van Dijk and Salah staying are high – as they would ‘struggle’ to bring in a ‘better’ club than Liverpool.

“I’m pretty confident the two older guys will sign because I think they’re probably at a stage in their career now where it’s difficult to join a club better than Liverpool,” Carragher said on the the BBC Daily Football.

“For me, the only two clubs when I was in a dressing room where players would want to play would be the Spanish giants, but I don’t really see it now for Virgil and Mo. And I think Mo Salah will be desperate to beat that many records as possible in Liverpool.

“When you’re looking for that last contract, it’s not really about the money, it’s maybe the length of the contract for these guys as they get a little bit older.”

Aged 33 and 32 respectively, Van Dijk and Salah are beyond the age range generally considered a player’s prime, but their form on the pitch indicates they are still in their prime.

And Carragher compared Van Dijk to an all-time great defender as he predicted how long he could last at the top level – potentially in Liverpool colours.

“I think Virgil van Dijk is one of the best central defenders I have ever seen,” enthused Carragher. “I think of Franco Baresi, who was still pulling the strings in that back four for AC Milan at 36. I think Virgil van Dijk can play at that level at that age, I think he’s that good. I think Mo Salah is the same.

Concerns mount for Alexander-Arnold

But while Carragher is confident that Van Dijk and Salah will extend their stay and strengthen their legacy at Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold, at 26, is someone who could have a next step ahead of him away from Anfield – at Real Madrid.

Madrid are looking for a successor to Dani Carvajal, currently sidelined with a serious injury, and Alexander-Arnold could fill the void in a high-profile move that would see him join England teammate Jude Bellingham .

Carragher added: “Trent is in a different situation and it’s probably one that most people are worried about now with the situation with the interest from Real Madrid but also the fact that Carvajal has just had his ACL done, so they’re desperate need a right of return as well, for probably the next 18 months.

Sources recently told TEAMtalk that Madrid confident he will outlast all other Alexander-Arnold suitors and that the only club they believe could reach an agreement with him in his place is Liverpool themselves.

As an academy product, Alexander-Arnold has spent his entire career so far with his boyhood club, Liverpool, and is therefore faced with a difficult decision: continue his commitment to the club or test himself elsewhere on the big stage at the Bernabeu.

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In the meantime, Liverpool have been linked with a few Premier League wingers just in case Salah leaves at the end of his contract.

The two main names currently on their shortlist, it has been claimed, are Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo and Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo.

This comes after one of the sporting directors who worked for Liverpool during Salah’s time at the club admitted it was ‘entirely possible’ that ex-Roma striker joins Saudi Pro League – which, as Carragher suggests, may not be a better standard than what is currently on offer at Liverpool, but may be a tempting move for one of the best players to ever emerge from the Middle East.

Salah not the only Liverpool striker linked with a 2025 departureeither.

Elsewhere, TEAMtalk has learned that Liverpool’s hopes are growing to seal what could end up being a record deal to sign Real Madrid midfielder.

Van Dijk’s importance to Liverpool’s success