Transcription
Ciao Fabri, welcome back to our podcast today. As always, it’s in video as well, so you can follow us on the YouTube channel with many blazers, of course. And we start today talking about Liverpool.
It’s about Liverpool because it’s a big day for Liverpool fans, as Mo Salah has extended his deal with the club. Yeah, it’s a big day. It’s a big moment, um, quite expected in the recent weeks, but not in the recent months because, uh, we know how long this story was about the contract extension of Mo Salah. Also, his quotes around December/January were spreading some panic around the Liverpool fans about the future. But behind the scenes, the club has always been quite convinced of their chances to extend the contract of Mo Salah, and now everything is sorted.
So an important contract, of course, for Mo Salah in terms of salary—well deserved, I would say, because he’s one of the best players in the world—but also for Mo Salah, two more years, so till 2027, to close any speculation for also summer 2026. Liverpool wanted to be relaxed, to give a longer contract than one season. There was some expectation two or three months ago that maybe Liverpool were going to offer him a one-year deal, maybe with an option to extend. No, it’s a directly two-year deal, 2027, and it’s fantastic news for Liverpool, as they keep the superstar Mo Salah and they avoid any pre-transfer. It was going to be probably a big problem also for the fans. And now Mo Salah stays.
Over the years, especially over the last year, there were many rumors about a possible outgoing of Mo Salah from Liverpool. There were the Saudi rumors, PSG rumors as well. Which club was close to sign him, if there was one? Yeah, look, about Paris and Germany, we had many stories for both Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk. My understanding is that PSG never started any concrete conversation for Mo Salah. You can be informed on a situation of a super player like, like Mo, but nothing more than this. PSG never presented a proposal. Mo Salah always wanted to stay at Liverpool.
So the message from those close to Mo Salah is that, despite the public statements and all the media games, the reality is that Mo always wanted to stay, always wanted to respect his project. So the message was, was very clear. And also, Paris men are going on a completely different direction. PSG respect these super players like Mo Salah or van Dijk, but we can see how PSG are investing on young players with respect to these superstars. They want to do something different. They already had superstars in Paris, and so now the vision, the project, is different. And, um, from Saudi is different. From Saudi is different because from the Saudi Pro League, they were prepared to invest big money on Mo Salah—not the one billion they wanted to offer to Vinicius Jr., but something close to that. So a really important financial proposal was ready for Mo Salah. But the reality is that Mo, yeah, maybe at some point considered that possibility as an option around September/October, but then when he saw the impact of Ares Lot, who has been absolutely crucial in this process to also show the players how good this project is at Liverpool, even after a legend like Jürgen Klopp, I think in that moment Mo Salah gave total priority to Liverpool, and so he decided to, to stay.
So now Mo Salah is official, finally, for Liverpool fans. The next one might be, should be Virgil van Dijk. You’re reporting that he’s the next one signing a new deal with the club?
Yeah, also in this case, everything is done. Today, in the morning, the lawyers started exchanging all the documents. So Liverpool lawyers and player lawyers, but everything is done also for Virgil van Dijk, 2027. So a two-year contract also for Virgil. In this case, Liverpool have never felt a real panic again, despite the rumors on Paris and Germany, and also in this case, Saudi, because every time we mention Saudi for Mo Salah, but I can guarantee to you, and maybe we will enter into this story as soon as the deal is official to respect the timing, but Virgil van Dijk also got a very important proposal from Saudi, and a really, really important one. So it was not only Mo Salah, also Virgil had this possibility on the table, and to show the commitment after the fantastic experience he’s having at Liverpool, once again, to extend the contract, to show his love for the club, for the shirt as well as Mo Salah is doing, I think is something absolutely fantastic for, for the club. Today there was a nice sentence from Ares Lot in a press conference, saying when you want to sign a player, telling them that Mo Salah and V—I mentioned Mo Salah, but I’m mentioning also van Dijk—sign a new contract, it’s also a very good point to show them about the project, and I think this is 100% correct.
So let’s go into details of what’s also the background of Liverpool. No, so what does it mean signing, I would say signing because it’s like resigning a player? No, now new contracts. So what does it mean for the club, resigning a player such as Mo Salah and possibly, of course, van Dijk as well? Look, I want to say congratulations to Liverpool on several points, uh, because yes, today is time for them to celebrate Mo Salah staying; soon will be the same with Virgil van Dijk. But I think there is more behind this, uh, imagine that Liverpool in the summer, summer 2024, they had to replace Jürgen Klopp, who is more than a manager, is more than a legend, is a symbol of modern football in my personal opinion, and imagine in Liverpool, so the impact of the new coach was something not guaranteed at all. We saw what happened, for example, at other clubs when they had to replace legendary coaches. They decided to go for Ares Lot, zero experience in the Premier League, but the impact has been fantastic, fantastic on every single point of view, on the pitch, but also off the pitch, in terms of relationship with the players. So they pick the correct coach. Uh, they pick a new director, Richard Hughes. Difficult summer because you know you are new in the club, you don’t want to change too many things, but at the same time you are expected to make big decisions. Also, many people say why Liverpool didn’t extend this contract one year ago, because you have a new director, a new coach, the players, superstars, want to see what kind of project is restarting at Liverpool. So they need some time before committing to a new deal. It’s not just about money, and Liverpool have been able to make it happen behind the scenes. Imagine the pressure they had this season. Imagine how many things maybe at another club would have come out on the media, creating a big problem at the club. Mo Salah and VG have always been super respectful, and let me say Trent too, always playing at their best level possible. Then probably now we will talk about that in a minute. Trent will do a different decision, but at the same time, what they did with Mo Salah and van Dijk, special work behind the scenes, work hard, reach an agreement, and be able to complete these contract extensions, and then destroy the Premier League title race. Congratulations.
Yeah. And also, like working in the shadows is also something important for Liverpool. No, they never work in public a lot, but also in the shadows and do things in the background.
Talking about Trent Alexander-Arnold, you already mentioned it because we are now celebrating Liverpool like resigning players, but also they might have Alexander-Arnold leave the club in the next weeks.
Yeah, that’s the expectation. I keep receiving many questions on that. Again, let’s wait for the formal steps. Formal steps means try and signs the deal at Real Madrid. Real Madrid call Liverpool to tell them, okay, we have signed the player. So this is always part of the process when it’s about top clubs and free agents. So let’s wait for those steps to say, okay, it’s done. But again, I can confirm what we said one month ago here. The idea is absolutely for Trent Alexander-Arnold to go to, to Real Madrid. The plan is, is very clear. There are no changes. The expectation is for Trent to be at Madrid next season. And so nothing has changed so far. I know that after the excitement you have for two players like Mo and Vil, maybe for Liverpool fans they have this dream of completing maybe a comeback on, on the transfer market and try to keep Trent. But my understanding is that Real Madrid are still very relaxed and confident to, to make it happen.
And talking about new contracts, are Liverpool still in talks with Ibrahima Konaté about a new deal?
Yeah, they are. They are. At some point, Liverpool were quite close to reaching an agreement with Ibrahima Konaté. Then there were still some, there was still some work to do on the details of this contract, but the conversation, from what I’m hearing, is still ongoing with, with his agents. Obviously, Liverpool this year had to focus on van Dijk, Trent, and Mo Salah. So it’s obvious that for a player like Ibrahima Konaté—a really important player for the club, but still with a contract valid and so not an urgent situation—Liverpool gave priority to the leaders they have in the dressing room. But Ibrahima Konaté is a player they really appreciate, he’s a player they love, they want to continue with him, they remain in conversation with him, and so Liverpool maintained their intention to extend his contract. Then, of course, is a financial topic too. There are more clubs following the situation, so let’s see what happens there, but Liverpool maintain their confidence and they remaining conf—in conversation with Ibrahima Konaté over a new deal.
Talking about defenders, you’ve been reporting a lot about Josko Gvardiol over the last weeks, over the last month. Is he a target for Liverpool, a potential target for Liverpool?
Look, I see many stories on, in the recent days. Uh, it’s not surprising because I’ve been saying for, for three months, since January, first of all, he has a released clause, we say in January. In February, was mentioning the release clause, 50 million pounds. So all these informations are really important. When you have this kind of release clause, it means that the player can agree with the club, and all the clubs interested can maybe trigger the clause and then see what the player wants to do. So in this case, I can confirm, as I said already two months ago, Liverpool are interested in Gvardiol. They had conversations with his agents. But don’t forget about Arsenal because it’s the same for Arsenal. Don’t forget about Newcastle trying. I think it will be difficult for them, but they are still there. Uh, there is also interest from Tottenham, but it’s not going to be an easy one for them because they can’t offer at the moment—let’s see what happens—Europa League, Champions League football. So there are several clubs interested in the player. The clause is there, about Real Madrid. The interest remains genuine, and the player could also be attracted, but Real Madrid have not decided yet whether they want to sign a new center back or not. That’s the point for Gvardiol. Real Madrid have not decided yet. So let’s see what happens also there with Ancelotti, with [inaudible]. It’s still early. I know there is this sort of panic to decide as soon as possible, but this is not the case. It’s going to take some time, and so let’s wait because many clubs are in the race for this player, including Liverpool.
Talking about defenders, is there a defender who can leave the club in the next weeks, next month as well?
I would keep an eye on Joe Gomez because, uh, he’s very good, he’s very talented, but at the same time, you know, sometimes you want to play, and so you have Virgil van Dijk extending the contract, Konaté is still there. The interest in Gvardiol, Liverpool have many players in that position. Then it’s true that injuries are part of the game. We have many games, as always in modern football. But Gomez is attracting interest from several clubs, Newcastle from what I’m hearing, but also German clubs. That’s the information I can tell you. I’m told that there is also interest from, from the Bundesliga. So I think there could be movement for, for Gomez. Could be one of the players for Liverpool to consider to cash in on, if the player wants to go and try something new.
Let’s also talk about possible signings because we’re also talking about a lot of possible outgoings. Is the left back the main target, main position that Liverpool will try to fill in, in the summer?
Yeah, in terms of signing, I expect Liverpool to be busy in the summer. I already said this several times, and I keep insisting on this. Then left back is one of the positions they want to cover. I maintain my position on the Milos Kerkez deal. He’s a player they like, he’s a player they have included in their shortlist. They have a very good relationship with his agent. He’s the same agent of Federico Chiesa, and an agent who is very good in terms of relationship with Liverpool. So Milos Kerkez for sure is a player they appreciate. Don’t forget that Richard Hughes was a director at AZ Alkmaar before joining Liverpool. So he knows the player so well, signed a player for AZ Alkmaar, and so Milos Kerkez is an option for sure. Not the only one, but remains a strong candidate for Liverpool left back position.
What about two other players like Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz that are been in the center of a lot of rumors of the last weeks?
Yeah, a lot of rumors because my expectation is still for Darwin Núñez to go. So I think Darwin Núñez will leave Liverpool in the summer transfer window. Already said that in January, in February, March, and now it’s April, and I keep repeating that I expect Darwin to, to go, to try something new. He was already very close to Al-Nassr in January. Then Liverpool decided to keep the same squad because they didn’t have a replacement. Obviously, in the summer is different. So I think Darwin can go. And for Luis Díaz, it really depends on the player because I think Liverpool will let him decide what he wants to do. Also for Luis Díaz, there is interest, genuine interest from Saudi. There could be also European clubs appreciating him and considering him. For example, at Barcelona they like Luis Díaz, but we know the issues with financial fair play. So Barça for sure are not starting any conversation, talks now, today in April, for, for Luis Díaz. So we have to see what the player wants to do, but for sure Darwin is expected to go, and for Díaz is an open story.
Thank you, Fabby, for today. We’ll be talking a lot about Liverpool. We will talk also about other clubs in the future, of course, and also managers, a lot of things coming up, and talk to you soon. Thank you, Ciao. Stop. Stop.