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Liverpool duo Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are close to agreeing new contracts at Anfield(Image: Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Similar to Liverpool's Premier League title charge, there remains work to be done.

But the direction of travel indicates both Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are ready to sign up to be part of Arne Slot's ongoing Anfield evolution.

Days after Van Dijk revealed progress had been made over contract talks after a months-long impasse, it emerged Salah is also close to final agreement just weeks before he too was due to become a free agent.



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The relief among Liverpool supporters was tangible, not least given it effectively ended the uncertainty that was, for some, in danger of distracting from attempts to claim a record-equalling 20th championship.

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But aside from such surety, it has also provided clarity to Liverpool's recruitment planning for the next transfer window and beyond.

Both Salah and Van Dijk are understood to be extending their Anfield stay for another two years.

Few would be surprised if these prove to be the last contracts the pair sign at the club, which would take Salah to a decade at Anfield and Van Dijk a few months short of that milestone.

The former would be 34, the latter almost 36.

And it means both the right-wing position and at least one centre-back berth are no longer immediate priorities that must be addressed, allowing sporting director Richard Hughes and his recruitment team to focus their attention in those parts of the team to succession planning.

Of course, the ideal would be for younger players who fit the long-established Fenway Sports Group model to be brought into the club over the next 18 months and given an opportunity to learn from two of the finest proponents of their position.

That won't be straightforward, particularly in the case of Salah with a dearth of top-quality, potentially available young wingers at present.

But with the right-back seemingly leaning towards an exit - not least with Real Madrid inviting a move to Bernabeu - the Reds are already pondering their options for support in the position for Conor Bradley, whose progress the club want to reward with a new contract.

The Reds have already made one move for next season, with goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili arriving from Valencia after a deal was agreed last year.

Ibrahima Konate is approaching the last 12 months of his contract and is attracting attention from Paris Saint-Germain, and while Liverpool are planning on Jarell Quansah being part of the squad next season, there are again question marks over Joe Gomez, who almost joined Newcastle United last summer.

That Slot was chasing a defensive midfielder last year - the efforts to sign Martin Zubimendi ultimately floundered - and hasn't given Wataru Endo a Premier League start indicates that is another part of the team poised for change.

And in the attack, the Reds boss has already intimated Liverpool will be in the market for at least a number nine, with Darwin Nunez attracting interest from Saudi Arabia and Luis Diaz, Federico Chiesa and Diogo Jota all facing uncertain futures.

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The wages of Van Dijk and Salah are unlikely to overly impact on Liverpool's transfer business given the savings that will be made in not having to splash out to immediately replace the duo.

The expected overhaul that comes with the arrival of a new manager may have been delayed 12 months, but the Reds will now be busy in the forthcoming market.
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