Liverpool can let their fears of losing Mohamed Salah rest after finally tying the Egyptian to a new long-term deal at Anfield. With the future of the winger resolved, Jurgen Klopp will now be able to focus his attention on other places, on other priorities of the club, and there are likely to be few points on his agenda.
After seeing Sadio Mane leave for new pastures with Bayern Munich this summer, Klopp will no doubt have worried that Salah could follow suit. The 30-year-old has been stuck with a new deal for some time, which has sparked speculation that the Reds could even allow the striker to reluctantly leave in this current window, rather than take the risk. to lose it for free in 12 months. time.
But Salah signing new terms, which will see him stay at Merseyside until 2025 and become the highest paid player in the club’s history with salaries exceeding £ 350,000 a week, will put a considerable weight on the minds of Klopp. German will now be able to focus on other issues.
With his talisman tied, Express Sport takes a closer look at four other urgent priorities that Klopp will now try to address, such as solving his current striker problem and pushing to sign a new midfield star.
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Solving the riddle of the striker
With Salah’s long-term future at Liverpool now marked in stone, Klopp’s striker line-up for next season has finally been completed. Moving to tie the end to a new deal will likely make the Reds ’head adhere to his planned plan to avoid any transfer business until next January as soon as possible.
Liverpool moved quickly to replace Mane with Uruguayan Darwin Nunez before the Senegalese striker had even left, leaving Klopp with five striker options at his disposal. But while Salah and Núñez are embarking on the German’s starting eleven, alongside the January recruit Luis Díaz in all likelihood, it remains to be seen what happens to Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota.
Currently, it is understood that Firmino is arousing the interest of Juventus, while Jota is unlikely to be satisfied with a place on the sidelines. With Liverpool waiting to mount a quadruple load next season, the pair will no doubt be required, as rotation will be key, but Klopp may have to convince Firmino and Jota that they will have their time to shine.
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Determining your favorite defensive partner
While the importance of Virgil van Dijk for this Liverpool team is indisputable, it remains to be seen who will be his favorite central defense team-mate. Last season, Klopp deployed both Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate alongside the Dutchman and both enjoyed impressive side races.
While Matip was crowned Premier League Player of the Month in March after a series of outstanding performances, Konate, who arrived from RB Leipzig with a £ 36million move last summer, went shine at times, while achieving some invaluable efforts during the Reds ’career. the Champions League final. In order to disrupt Manchester City’s dominance in the Premier League, Klopp may have to decide which of the pair congratulates Van Dijk best, especially when it comes to facing Pep Guardiola’s side.
Matip played in both league games last season, as the pair played two 2-2 draws, while Konate played – and scored – in the Reds’ FA Cup semi-final success against City . Maybe it’s time for Klopp to entrust the Frenchman as Van Dijk’s teammate for all of Liverpool’s big games next season.
Signing of a new star midfielder
While this is unlikely to be an issue on Klopp’s agenda that can be addressed immediately, there is no denying that the signing, or at least the destination, of a new midfielder will occupy a prominent place on the head of the head coach’s list of priorities. Liverpool. In fact, it is an area that the Reds have had to strengthen for a long time.
Anfield’s team made no secret of their desire to add a young, dynamic midfield presence to their ranks this summer after intensely chasing Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni. However, the Reds were rejected by the signing of the 22-year-old by Real Madrid, despite having accepted personal terms.
Given that Klopp has already completed his spending this summer, the need for a new midfield master is a problem that won’t go away any time soon. Liverpool are now likely to postpone their search for a youth striker until next summer, but the club should do everything possible in the meantime to make sure they don’t miss their main goal again by 12 months. It may be prudent for Klopp to take the charming offensive approach with Jude Bellingham at the first available opportunity.
Addressing the future of Neco Williams
Another puzzle Klopp can do to clear up is what to do with Neco Williams. With Trent Alexander-Arnold established as one of the most efficient right-backs in world football, the young Welshman will no doubt find limited opportunities at Anfield.
However, as demonstrated during a fruitful loan season with Fulham last season, the 21-year-old is an exciting prospect. Alexander-Arnold’s substitute scored two goals and recorded two assists during the second half of the season while helping the Cottagers secure promotion to the Premier League.
Not surprisingly, his excellent performances have caught the attention of many top-level English football teams and it is believed that the new Premier League boys, Nottingham Forest, are leading the race for their much sought after signature. Amid intense interest elsewhere, Klopp faces a dilemma: commit to giving Williams plenty of playing time next season, perhaps experimenting with Alexander-Arnold in midfield, or accepting the international Welsh at Anfield would only hinder his development and make him money. this summer, while demand is high and the club seems willing to pay the price.