The January transfer window opens on Thursday, initiating a month-long frenzy for clubs to finalize any personnel adjustments for the remainder of the Premier League season. For teams aiming for top honors, it’s a pivotal opportunity to bolster their squads in pursuit of silverware. Meanwhile, clubs fighting against relegation can strategically bring in players to help achieve their survival goals.
However, the transfer window is not just about trading players; it’s also a critical period for clubs to address contract situations of key players nearing the end of their deals, especially those who could enter free agency in the summer of 2026 or 2027. It’s vital for clubs to secure new agreements to prevent losing stars to rival clubs.
In light of this, we present another edition of “Keep, Dump or Extend,” focusing this time on Liverpool. Mark Ogden and Gab Marcotti will act as sporting directors to evaluate Liverpool’s current challenges, from player acquisitions and departures to contract negotiations. Let’s dive in!
Liverpool: Keep, Dump or Extend?
• Current League Standing (as of Dec. 30): 4th, 32 points. (Previous year’s finish: 1st, 84 points)
• Aim for the Season: Secure Champions League qualification via the Premier League or triumph in the Champions League or FA Cup.
1. Salah is away at AFCON, and his future is uncertain: What should the club do with its star player?
Ogden: Just a couple of weeks ago, after Mohamed Salah made some contentious remarks regarding his playing time, I would have suggested Liverpool consider a sale in January if an outrageous offer came in from Saudi Arabia.
However, the recent injury to Alexander Isak alters the situation significantly. With Isak sidelined for two to three months due to a broken leg, Liverpool must retain their top scorer, regardless of Salah’s sentiments towards manager Arne Slot.
Isak might return as early as March, but until then, Salah’s future needs to be put on hold until the summer.
0:53
Arne Slot: Myself and Mohamed Salah have moved on from Leeds interview
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has stated that both he and Mohamed Salah have moved forward following the Egyptian’s recent interview.
Marcotti: Salah is under contract; he stays if he wants to stay. Even if substantial offers from Saudi Arabia arise, it won’t affect his resolution because he’s not driven by money. If he were, he would have left as a free agent last summer. The only scenario under which he might leave is if he feels he can’t secure a regular starting position, which isn’t the case yet. Moreover, with Isak out, his position in the squad remains safe.
I would love to see Slot deploy a formation that highlights Salah’s strengths while minimizing his weaknesses. A variant of the 4-4-2 system seen at Inter Milan might be the answer. Given Slot’s experimentation with different formations, it would be wise to try this when Salah returns.
2. With Isak injured, should Liverpool replace him internally or seek another forward?
Ogden: Liverpool likely won’t miss Isak’s contributions much during his absence, as the £125m summer signing has only netted twice in the Premier League since joining Newcastle. However, his recent goal against Spurs may have sparked a turnaround, so his absence is significant.
Nonetheless, rushing into the market to find a replacement in January would be unwise. Salah is expected back by mid-January at the latest, and Slot can count on options like Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa, and promising teenager Rio Ngumoha to cover the forward line. Coupled with Dominik Szoboszlai’s scoring ability, Liverpool has ample depth to manage Isak’s absence.
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Will Liverpool need to sign a replacement for Isak in January?
Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens discuss Alexander Isak’s injury against Tottenham and whether Liverpool should seek a new striker.
Marcotti: Assuming no other players get injured, I would advise against signing another forward. There’s no need for a replacement for a player who contributed minimally and struggled to earn a starting spot.
Let Ekitike take the center-forward position, and when needed, turn to Gakpo. Alternatively, a two-striker setup could involve Wirtz, Chiesa, and a returning Salah.
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3. Should Liverpool seek reinforcements in other positions, or stick with their current squad?
Ogden: Liverpool definitely needs to acquire a central defender.
Even though Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté remain healthy, they require dependable backup or potential replacements. Joe Gomez cannot be counted on to stay fit, and summer signing Giovanni Leoni is out for the season with an ACL injury at just 19 years old.
Liverpool’s previous efforts to sign Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace fell through, and they might have missed their best opportunity to secure the England player. However, with his contract expiring in June, Palace could be open to a decent offer, warranting another attempt in early January.
Marcotti: Whether it’s Guéhi or another player, Liverpool needs another reliable option that can start.
I understand the hesitance to spend large sums in January due to the often inflated prices, but they should actively pursue a loan for a player who meets their criteria if a permanent signing isn’t viable.
4. Elliott’s loan at Aston Villa has not gone well: Should Liverpool recall him?
Ogden: Absolutely. Harvey Elliott shone during last summer’s U-21 Euros, but at Aston Villa, Unai Emery has granted him just 97 minutes of Premier League action.
He has not participated in any matches since a four-minute substitute appearance in the Europa League against Feyenoord on October 2. Under FIFA regulations, Elliott cannot play for another club this season after representing both Liverpool and Villa, which makes it crucial for Liverpool to negotiate his return to Anfield.
Marcotti: This is a clear decision—bring him back. He’s versatile, industrious, and can contribute in both midfield and forward roles. While his participation last season was minimal (28 appearances), Liverpool’s circumstances have changed significantly this year.
Additionally, recalling him makes sense as he has a year left on his contract, allowing Liverpool to assess his value for an extension.
5. With Robertson and Konaté both out of contract in the summer, should they be renewed or allowed to leave for free?
Ogden: I would prioritize offering Andy Robertson a one-year extension as soon as possible. Regardless of his turning 32 in March, Robertson’s experience and dependability have been invaluable, especially while Milos Kerkez acclimates to Anfield.
Conversely, Ibrahima Konaté presents a different challenge. At 26, he is in his prime, and a new contract should have been secured at least a year ago, but his performances in 2025 don’t warrant an extension, suggesting that decisions on his future at Anfield are being made.
Marcotti: I believe Robertson would be open to a short-term extension, especially given that he’s now more of a supplementary player.
This scenario mirrors last year’s situations with three impending free agents (Salah, Van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold). However, unlike Salah and Van Dijk, who accepted two-year extensions, Konaté’s age makes such an agreement less plausible—nor should it be expected.
I don’t think Liverpool should write off Konaté yet, but they must be prudent about their financial commitments, as they were with Trent Alexander-Arnold. I hope they can rely on Slot and the analytics department to provide a convincing rationale for his decline and determine if it is addressable.
6. Liverpool faces several contracts expiring in 2027: Alisson, Van Dijk, Wataru Endo, Salah, Curtis Jones, Joe Gomez, and Stefan Bajcetic. Which should be prioritized for extension?
Ogden: My focus would be on securing long-term contracts for Alisson Becker and Curtis Jones, but I’m undecided about the others.
Although Van Dijk and Salah are undeniably club legends, both have appeared to slow down this season since signing two-year deals in 2025. It would be wise to assess their performance through the remainder of 2026 to determine if they will still be at Anfield in a year.
Wataru Endo, Stefan Bajcetic, and Joe Gomez have unique situations, but none should anticipate new contracts imminently.
Marcotti: I’m not completely convinced about Alisson’s status as the surefire starter he once was, considering he’s sustained injuries in each of the last three seasons. Given his age of 33, the club can afford to take their time on this decision.
Extending Jones is straightforward—provided it’s at the right price—and it would also give Liverpool leverage in negotiations with Alexis Mac Allister, whose contract runs until 2028.
I agree that there’s no urgency concerning the other contracts; but once Bajcetic is healthy, I would like to see him get some game time, as he was a promising talent before his injuries.
7. With Slot’s contract ending in June 2027, should he receive a new contract, or should the club wait until the season’s end?
Ogden: Slot seems to have navigated the early-season turbulence and achieved some stability, but we should wait to see how the remainder of the season unfolds. Liverpool might end the season as Champions League winners, yet they also risk missing out on the top four entirely and coming away empty-handed.
It may sound extreme, but despite winning the Premier League last season, Slot must still demonstrate he merits a contract extension.
Marcotti: Conventional wisdom suggests not allowing coaches to enter a season with only one year pending on their contracts, as it hampers their authority. However, Liverpool has shown with the recent situations involving Salah, Van Dijk, and Trent that this isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker.
If a club is well-managed with solid oversight from the sporting director and CEO of football, a capable coach like Slot shouldn’t require the security of an extended contract. Slot is an experienced individual who understands his performance hasn’t been up to par this season, and it’s unlikely he would react negatively to the lack of a new deal.
Conversely, if he successfully finds the right balance and turns the season around, he absolutely deserves to be rewarded with a new contract in the spring.