Trent Arnold's Real Madrid move 'major factor' in Mo Salah's Liverpool future

Liverpool are in danger of losing Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk in the summer when the trio are out of contract but not everything is settled

Liverpool are ready to offer Mohamed Salah what he wants after getting Trent Alexander-Arnold's wages off the books, it has been claimed. Both men are out of contract in the summer, with Alexander-Arnold's move to Real Madrid all but confirmed.

Back in December, Salah raised doubts about his longer-term future at Anfield. "I'm probably more out than in," the Egyptian said after the Reds' win away to Southampton before the turn of the year.

"You know I have been in the club for many years. There is no club like this. But in the end it is not in my hands. As I said before, it is December and I haven't received anything yet about my future."

Salah has continued to show his worth to Arne Slot's side, though. He leads the Premier League this season in both goals and assists, and just needs five more goals to match the career-best return of 32 which he posted in his first Liverpool season.

The Reds have pushed back against bids from Saudi Arabia in order to hang on to their leading scorer. Now, according to reports in Egypt, they are readying one last push to keep him around.

As reported by Masrawy (via The Mail), the Reds have upped their offer above what was previously on the table. The outlet claims talks between the club and Salah's agent Ramy Abbas are "much more advanced this time than ever before"

Sources have told the publication that Alexander-Arnold's exit is a "major factor" in the latest progress. While there has been no confirmation of any agreement at the time of writing, Liverpool are said to be ready to meet Salah's demands.

Right-back Alexander-Arnold is set to have a ready-made spot in the Real Madrid team, directly replacing Dani Carvajal at right-back as the veteran works his way back from serious injury and also serving as a long-term replacement for the passing range of 39-year-old Luka Modric.

Former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher offered another theory behind the move, though. "I think Trent is a player who looks at himself almost like a brand, and that’s not just him, a lot of players do now," he said on The Overlap.

"I go back to an interview he gave on Sky Sports before Christmas, where he was given five options on which he’d pick as the most important for you – captain of Liverpool, win the Champions League with Liverpool, win the World Cup with England, or win the Ballon d’Or – and he chose the Ballon d’Or.

"He wanted to be the first full-back that won the Ballon d’Or, and there’s nothing wrong with having ambition, but that didn’t go down particularly well with Liverpool supporters.”