Three of the Premier League’s “Big Six” clubs—Liverpool, Manchester Cityand Tottenham Hotspur—face a critical juncture as the January transfer window approaches. Key players at each club are entering the final six months of their contracts, meaning they will be free to negotiate pre-contracts with clubs outside the Premier League from 1 January 2025. This situation calls for quick action from these clubs to avoid losing key players for free.
Liverpools contractual situations with Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are particularly pressing. Salah (32) and Van Dijk (33) are entering the latter stages of their careers, and Liverpool have historically been reluctant to offer lucrative long-term deals to players over 30.
However, given their importance to the team, these situations may be an exception. While Salah’s contract talks seemed stalled a month agoreports suggest negotiations have progressed, with a two- or three-year extension potentially on the horizon.
Van Dijk recently expressed his love for the club and his desire to continue playing at the highest level for several more years. This positive sentiment suggests that a renewal could be on the way, where both players can come to an agreement. The situation with Alexander-Arnold (26) is more complex. The right-back has been heavily linked with Real Madrid and could leave on a free transfer, but Liverpool are determined to keep hold of their second captain. Alexander-Arnold recently stated his desire to leave a legacy at the club, a sentiment which appears to have resonated with potential suitors. Although his commitment to Liverpool is strong, negotiations are ongoing and no agreement has been reached so far.
Manchester City’s De Bruyne situation: Injury and uncertain future
Kevin De Bruyne (33) has been crucial to Manchester City’s success under Pep Guardiola. However, injuries have hampered his recent form, and a reduction in playing time has created uncertainty over his future.
De Bruyne has openly discussed contract negotiations and the possibility of leaving the club. While he said he is happy at the club, he also confirmed that contract negotiations were taking place but were put on hold due to his injuries. He hinted at a potential move to Saudi Arabia. This creates a serious situation for the club, and a decision will need to be made very soon.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Dilemma
Tottenham Hotspur faces a similar challenge with Heung-min Son (32). One of the Premier League’s best players of the last decade, Son is now considering his future for the first time since joining in 2015. While Tottenham are reportedly planning to activate a clause in his contract to extend his stay until 2026, this has yet to be officially announced. This lack of official confirmation has introduced uncertainty over Son’s future, and decisive action is clearly required from the club.
These three clubs face a race against time. From 1 January 2025, these key players can negotiate pre-contracts with foreign clubs. Clubs must act quickly to secure the future of these important playersor risk losing them for free next summer. Failure to reach an agreement quickly could have serious consequences for these three clubs.
Loading…
