Path CLEARS for Richard Hughes to complete three major contract deals

Liverpool have got several contract problems to solve.

In summer 2026 they will LOSE Ibrahima Konate for free unless a new deal can be agreed very quickly. Progress has been slow on negotiations with the France defender but he is not the only player causing a headache for Richard Hughes.

In recent weeks we’ve seen reports that the club intend to kick off contract talks with both Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai.

The midfield duo are out of contract in 2028 and it’s clear that the Premier League champions want them on board for the long term.

However Liverpool are already paying an incredibly large amount out in wages. Recent research by the Deloitte Money League revealed that Liverpool are paying more in salary than any other Premier League side.

With Manchester City and Manchester United seemingly working hard to get their bills under control in recent seasons Liverpool have allowed theirs to spiral.

Liverpool could sell Salah to Saudi Arabia

Now that may be no problem given their relatively healthy wages-to-turnover ratio but there is only so much to go around. Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are taking a sizeable chunk of that salary budget - trousering a reported £400k per week apiece.

And unless something drastic changes then the Anfield club might not be able to furnish any more blockbuster deals. In that context news from Saudi Arabia might well be welcomed by decision-makers on Merseyside.

Ben Jacobs for talkSPORT is reporting that the Saudi Pro League is going to make a renewed attempt to bring Salah to the Middle East next summer.

The Egyptian King, 33, is out of contract in 2027 but Hughes will get a chance to cash in on the superstar forward very soon.

Salah's wages can go to others

Talks have reportedly been opened between SPL officials and the Salah entourage ahead of the summer window - although Liverpool continue to insist he will see out his deal.

Three teams - Al Hilal, NEOM FC and Al Qadsiah are reported to be the leading the chase for Salah. And if the Reds can get a replacement in summer then there is a real chance he will go.

Should Salah take his leave after nine glorious years at Anfield then it will free up £400k per week in the wage budget. And that might well be enough to offer bumper pay rises to Szoboszlai, Gravenberch and most pressingly to Konate in the short term.

Liverpool may well have to sacrifice Salah in order to get those deals over the line - in much the same way they let Trent Alexander-Arnold go in order to facilitate new deals for Van Dijk, Salah and others.

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