From player contract talks and possible transfer targets to Caoimhin Kelleher’s future, the Adidas kit deal and the young talent emerging from the Kirkby academy, you wanted to know about a wide range of topics in our special international break Liverpool mailbag.
Thanks very much for all your questions and sorry if yours wasn’t selected this time.
Let’s get started…
Ryan Gravenberch has played almost every minute in the big competitions and has excelled. What is our Plan B if he’s unavailable? His ball-carrying, press resistance and technical ability are unmatched. (Amod D)
James Pearce: Rewind to August and I feared that Liverpool not signing a specialist holding midfielder could cost them dearly this season, but Gravenberch has stepped up magnificently.
I don’t think anyone else in the squad could play the No 6 role like he has. He’s such an elegant footballer — so composed in possession and tireless without it.
Wataru Endo has deputised for him in the two Carabao Cup ties, but if Arne Slot needed a Plan B in the Premier League or the Champions League, he’s most likely to go with Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones playing as the deep-lying duo in midfield with either Dominik Szoboszlai or Harvey Elliott operating ahead of them.
Given Liverpool’s unlikely positive start to the season and the relative paucity of transfers during the summer, is Fenway Sports Group likely to strengthen the squad in January? And if so, what areas? (Jon S)
Pearce: I’d be surprised if Liverpool do much, if anything, in the January window. Slots believes he has depth in all departments and his options will be enhanced with the returns of Diogo Jota, Harvey Elliott, Federico Chiesa and Alisson.
Slot is happy with the depth across his squad (Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)
There is no glaring need to do business, but that might change if injuries bite. Few clubs are willing to lose their top talent for reasonable prices midway through a season, but as we saw with the purchase of Luis Diaz from Porto in January 2022 and Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven 12 months later, Liverpool will be alert to any opportunities in the market.
Do you think it makes sense to extend Mohamed Salah’s contract for two years rather than let him go on a free next summer and buy a replacement with a similar profile? Wouldn’t it be more expensive and less effective to replace him? (Alexander M)
Pearce: Liverpool want to keep Salah and the player is keen on staying put. It comes down to whether both parties can agree a compromise in terms of the basic salary, the bonus structure and the length of the contract.
I wrote after his match-winning contribution against Aston Villa last weekend that I thought a two-year extension on similar terms to his current contract would make sense. That would take him up to his 35th birthday in 2027.
Physically, Salah is a machine and his output is remarkable, but if he wanted a significant pay rise or longer than an extra two years, then that’s a real dilemma. He can’t defy Father Time forever.
If money is the overriding factor, he will go to a club in the Saudi Pro League next summer because nobody can match the wages on offer there.
But if he wants to keep breaking records at the highest level in Europe, his options seem pretty limited. Who else would pay him close to £350,000 ($450,000) per week plus bonuses? Maybe Paris Saint-Germain, but would he want to go there? I have my doubts.
Signing a replacement for Salah would be more costly than giving him a two-year extension. At some point, Liverpool will need to sign his successor and I can’t see them doing that while he’s still there.
Any updates on the big three contracts? (James K)
Pearce: This is a pivotal period in ongoing discussions with Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, given they can pen pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs from January 1 onwards.
All parties have remained tight-lipped. Sometimes these sagas can get played out in the media, but it has all stayed behind closed doors. It’s difficult to make judgements over who is dragging their heels when you don’t know what’s on the table and what’s being demanded.
Sporting director Richard Hughes has got to do what he believes is in the best interests of the club within a financial framework acceptable to the owner. Hughes inherited a really difficult situation when he arrived from Bournemouth in March and I’m not surprised that it has rumbled on.
Van Dijk’s contract expires at the end of the season (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
For example, talks over Jarell Quansah’s extension spanned four months and that, on the face of it, was a relatively straightforward renewal. Getting Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold tied down is more complex.
The sooner there is clarity, the better. Whether those players stay or go will have a massive impact on what Liverpool need to do in the transfer market next summer.
It looks less likely that Alexander-Arnold will stay. Would you take whatever money Real Madrid offered for him in January or let him ride out his contract so you have him for a potential title charge? (Thomas K)
Pearce: I can’t see Alexander-Arnold going anywhere in January. Few players are sold when inside the final six months of their contract. Any transfer fee paid out would impact the size of the signing-on fee a club would be willing to pay a player who is about to become a free agent. Why would the player agree to that?
Plus, if Liverpool challenge for the title in the second half of the season, they would be much better off keeping Alexander-Arnold given his influence on Slot’s side rather than pocketing, say, £15million.
The lure of Real Madrid is clear, but contrary to reports in Spain, Liverpool have not given up hope of keeping their vice-captain beyond this season.
Regarding contract situations, apart from the big three, we also have other important squad members coming close to the end of their contracts. Any news regarding that? (Sudharsh S)
Pearce: The only other priority is Ibrahima Konate, whose deal runs until 2026. Talks are underway and I don’t envisage any issues there. He’s happy and settled at Liverpool. He’s in the best form of his Anfield career and at 25, his best years are ahead of him.
Do you think the club will look at left-backs in the next two windows? (Will E)
Pearce: While Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas remain at Liverpool, I can’t see Liverpool buying another left-back. You wouldn’t have three senior options in that position.
It’s been the one place in the back line that Slot has frequently rotated this season. Robertson suffered from being sidelined for most of pre-season with an ankle injury, missing sessions when the new head coach was trying to get his ideas across.
There was an overreaction to Robertson’s tough afternoon away to Arsenal last month. At 30, he’s far from finished and I thought he responded positively after being recalled against Villa.
Tsimikas has kicked on this season. The Greece international seems to have cut out the sloppy defensive errors and his increase in game time is deserved.
There’s no sign of Slot wanting an alternative left-back.
Any news on Chiesa’s injury? Is there a good reason Juventus let him go so cheap? (Sean N)
Any substance to the rumours Chiesa could be moved on in January? (Mike T)
Pearce: It’s been a massively frustrating start for Chiesa. He has only played 78 minutes (with just 19 minutes in the Premier League and Champions League) and the excitement generated by his signing in August has evaporated.
Liverpool are basically giving him a mini pre-season in the hope that he can build up his fitness levels. It’s about handling the intensity of the training.
Chiesa is having a mini pre-season (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
It’s too soon to write off Chiesa and there’s no truth in the rumours that Liverpool are already thinking about off-loading him.
He played 37 times for Juventus last season, so it’s not like he arrived at Anfield after an injury-plagued campaign. He was cheap at £10million because he was down to the final year of his contract and they wanted him off the wage bill.
Any updates on the injury status of Jota and Elliott? (Steve M)
Pearce: Jota is expected to be back available about a week after the international break, while Elliott is training with the under-21s this week and should rejoin the seniors when they reconvene at Kirkby next week.
Any updates on FSG’s search for another club? (Benjamin W)
Pearce: No, it’s all gone quiet since the potential takeover of French outfit Bordeaux fell through in July. FSG still want to build a multi-club model, but it’s about finding the right club at the right price.
If the season goes well, I propose you do a write-up on the strategic pragmatism of Slot. Love it when he subs on extra defenders to protect a lead and frustrate the opponent. It’s something Klopp hardly did. (Alvin G)
Pearce: How Slot has made a difference to games with his substitutions has been really impressive. The opening weekend set the tone when he brought on Konate for Quansah at the break. It was ruthless, but it certainly got Liverpool going.
He’s been proactive. I liked the double substitution, bringing on Diaz and Jones, when Liverpool were 1-0 down in the second half against Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield. He effectively went for broke with a front four and it did the trick. Liverpool scored twice in quick succession and then at 2-1 up, he replaced Darwin Nunez with Endo. Job done.
Favourite LFC kit of all time? (Ryan B)
Pearce: Got to be my first one, the Adidas home shirt from the 1987-88 season. The white V-neck. Crown Paints as the sponsor. Was a gift for my 10th birthday. A thing of beauty. Although I’ve got to admit, it’s a bit tight these days……
Liverpool 1987-88 home shirt made by @adidasfootball #VILvLIV #LFC pic.twitter.com/JWQ9aGJg1a
— Classic Football Shirts (@classicshirts) April 28, 2016
Is Martin Zubimendi still on Liverpool’s radar? (John T)
How realistic are the Aurelien Tchouameni rumours? (Antonio D)
Pearce: Gravenberch’s form means Liverpool no longer view signing a holding midfielder as a priority.
With Endo turning 32 in February and down the pecking order, off-loading him and signing a replacement next summer could be wise.
Liverpool haven’t tried to resurrect the Zubimendi deal since it fell through, but I don’t get the impression he’s burned any bridges. Yes, the player backtracked and opted to stay in August after initially indicating he wanted the move to Anfield to happen, but Liverpool know he came under a lot of pressure from Real Sociedad.
Tchouameni was extensively scouted by Liverpool when he was with Monaco (Maria Jimenez – Real Madrid/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
As for Tchouameni, Liverpool extensively scouted him at Monaco, but they had to admit defeat when it became clear that his heart was set on moving to Real Madrid in the summer of 2022. As Liverpool’s previous interest was well known, he is bound to be linked with the club when his future is in doubt once again.
Have you heard anything about Liverpool pursuing Omar Marmoush at Eintracht Frankfurt? (Paul S)
Pearce: There were some reports in Germany that Liverpool had already initiated contact, but I’ve been told that’s not the case.
Marmoush is having a brilliant season, but Liverpool have six elite attackers — Salah, Diaz, Nunez, Jota, Gakpo and Chiesa. They would only look to bolster that department if someone left.
Which of the loan players do you think has the best chance of breaking through next year? (Robin D)
Pearce: Ben Doak. I was glad that Liverpool didn’t sell him last summer because injuries have hampered his progress. A loan made much more sense for Doak, who just turned 19, and he is doing brilliantly on Middlesbrough’s right wing, starting eight out of their 12 Championship games since he joined. He has so much potential.
Lewis Koumas, 19, is also doing really well at Stoke City. It’s been a tough start for Stefan Bajcetic, 20, at Red Bull Salzburg under Pep Lijnders, but hopefully, he can kick on.
Why did we sign another ‘keeper instead of just promoting Kelleher when Alisson moves on? (Lewis B)
Pearce: The question is when will Alisson leave? He is only 32 and said after Liverpool agreed the deal with Valencia for Giorgi Mamardashvili that he intends to see out the rest of his contract, which runs until 2026 (the club have the option of a further 12 months).
Kelleher doesn’t want to wait around until then. He wants to be a No 1. He has wanted to leave over the past two summers but has ended up staying as cover.
Come next summer, Kelleher will be 26 and only have one year left on his contract. Liverpool will have little option but to grant him a move.
Succession planning led Liverpool to the signing of Mamardashvili. They felt he was underpriced at £25million and that it represented a shrewd long-term investment.
There must be a chance that Alisson brings forward his departure date given the persistent interest in him from Saudi Arabian clubs, but when you look at how Vitezslav Jaros performed on his first Liverpool start against Brighton recently, the goalkeeping department is in decent shape.
Why is Tyler Morton not getting more game time? I like Endo, but he’s struggling on the ball and Slot doesn’t trust him. (Mr O)
Pearce: I’ve got a lot of sympathy for Morton. Bayer Leverkusen were among the clubs keen to take him on loan in the summer but Liverpool would only consider permanent offers.
Liverpool would only consider permanent options for Tyler Morton in the summer (Barrington Coombs/Getty Images)
It was always likely he would find his opportunities limited at Liverpool. I thought he did very well at Brighton in the Carabao Cup and he has impressed the senior players with his attitude in training. Slot is still favouring Endo’s experience when it comes to bringing a defensive midfielder off the bench, but Morton, 22, has to keep pushing. I’m sure his chance will come.
Can you give us a rundown of the new Adidas shirt deal? The reported £60million per year sounds low. (Mattias R)
Pearce: It’s been difficult to establish the full details as neither Adidas nor Liverpool have confirmed the deal yet. I’m not expecting official confirmation until January.
You’re right, that figure of £60m per year is low, but it will be worth a lot more than that to Liverpool. Bonuses are built into the contract based on the team’s performance domestically and in Europe.
Who are Liverpool’s most exciting young players? (Miika H)
Pearce: Trey Nyoni is the obvious answer. He’s 17, but the midfielder has already played twice for the club’s senior side. He’s so assured.
I also really like Kieran Morrison, 18, who has been playing wide on the right for the under-21s and in the UEFA Youth League. He’s quick, skilful and causes defenders a lot of problems. Liverpool have huge hopes for 16-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha, a high-profile signing from Chelsea’s academy this summer.
Two others who have stood out in the youth games I’ve watched are striker Ranel Young, 18, and right-back DJ Esdaille, 16.
I’m also looking forward to seeing Jayden Danns back in action after a stress fracture in his back. We all saw last season what the 18-year-old is capable of.
(Top photo: Getty Images)
