Liverpool Darurat! Performa Mohamed Salah dan Virgil van Dijk Drop, Tom Werner Ingin Lepas Gratis

Rancak Media – Liverpool’s chairman, Tom Werner, has revealed that the club was prepared to let star players Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk leave on free transfers last summer if contract negotiations had failed. This surprising admission comes amidst the Reds’ struggles this season and mounting criticism directed at the contributions of both senior players.

Werner acknowledged that Liverpool found themselves in a precarious position last summer as the contracts of both Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk neared their expiry. Despite extensive discussions that stretched through a crucial Premier League title campaign, neither player had reached a new agreement, creating significant uncertainty for the club’s future.

Werner stated that Liverpool, alongside Fenway Sports Group (FSG), was ready to take the drastic risk of losing these two club icons without any transfer fee if the disparity in contract demands proved insurmountable. He emphasized that any decision had to prioritize the club’s long-term financial stability and balance above all else.

According to the Daily Mail (20/11), the breakthrough in these complex negotiations was largely attributed to Sporting Director Richard Hughes. Werner specifically lauded Hughes for his extraordinary patience and highly professional approach in dealing with player agents. Crucially, FSG was prepared to defer to Hughes’ judgment, respecting his decision if he concluded that the negotiation gap was simply too vast to bridge, even if it meant not extending the contracts of their key players.

“We were very happy when new contracts for Mo and Virgil finally completed. But you know? If Richard had called and said, ‘The gap is too big,’ I would have respected it too,” Werner told The Athletic, highlighting the difficult choices the club faced.

Despite ultimately securing new deals for both players, the current season has seen a noticeable dip in Liverpool’s overall performance, which has, in turn, fueled criticism of Salah and Van Dijk. Former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney, for instance, has publicly questioned the leadership qualities of both senior players on the pitch. Rooney specifically pointed to their concerning body language, suggesting it has had a detrimental impact on the team’s rhythm and morale.

“Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, they have signed new contracts, but I don’t feel like they have really led the team this season,” Rooney remarked on The Wayne Rooney Show, as quoted by the Daily Mail, reinforcing the growing sentiment among pundits.

Adding to the scrutiny, a report from German media outlet Bild has also highlighted Salah’s perceived decline, suggesting he is playing too individually. This individualistic approach is believed to have hindered new recruit Florian Wirtz’s adaptation, with Wirtz yet to register a goal or assist in 11 Premier League appearances so far this season.

Liverpool currently finds itself in an unfamiliar eighth position in the Premier League table, trailing Arsenal by eight points. Given the team’s struggles, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has strongly advised the club to strengthen its defensive line in the upcoming January transfer window if they hope to maintain their chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

“I think if Liverpool don’t sign a defender in January, they could miss out on Champions League qualification,” Carragher warned, underscoring the urgency of addressing the team’s defensive vulnerabilities.