Liverpool Legend Concerned About Potential Departure of Salah and Trent
Liverpool legend Glen Johnson has expressed his concerns about the possible departure of star players Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah if the club’s new manager fails to make an impact next season. This news comes after current manager Jurgen Klopp announced that he will be leaving his position at the end of this campaign.
Both Alexander-Arnold and Salah have less than 18 months left on their contracts, which means they would be free to negotiate with foreign clubs starting from January next year if they do not agree to new deals. Johnson believes that if Klopp’s successor struggles in their first season, it could lead to a nightmare scenario where these key players decide to leave the club.
Johnson, who made 200 appearances for Liverpool between 2009 and 2015, emphasized the importance of securing the contracts of Alexander-Arnold and Salah. He stated, “Let’s be real, who’s not going to take Trent Alexander-Arnold or Mo Salah on the cheap? If Liverpool have a bad season following Jurgen’s departure, then we could potentially see an exodus.”
Klopp’s departure could also have a significant impact on Liverpool’s recruitment plans in the upcoming transfer window. Johnson highlighted the importance of having a top manager in place when trying to attract top players. He said, “If Liverpool try and sign a top player in the summer, they will want to know who is replacing Jurgen? You need to excite the players to encourage them to move to Liverpool.”
As for potential replacements for Klopp, Anfield legend Xabi Alonso is the current favorite. Johnson sees Alonso as a good choice, stating, “He’s doing a fantastic job at Bayer Leverkusen and he has got the minerals for it.” However, he also acknowledged that the right choice is still unknown at this point.
Whoever takes over as manager will face a difficult task and will need time to implement their vision. Johnson believes that being a club legend like Alonso will buy him more patience from the fans, but success is not guaranteed solely based on that. He remarked, “The fans will have more patience with him and give him more leeway than they would with a manager that doesn’t already have an affiliation with the club.”
In other news, defender Andy Robertson opened up about his recent three-month layoff due to shoulder surgery. He revealed that he suffered in silence during this period, not wanting to burden his teammates with his frustrations. Robertson expressed his determination to overcome the challenges and return stronger for the team.
As Liverpool prepares for the end of Klopp’s era, the uncertainty surrounding the future of key players and the search for a new manager loom large. Only time will tell how these developments will shape the future of the club, but one thing is for sure – Liverpool will need to navigate these changes carefully to maintain their standing as one of the top teams in English football.