Liverpool make contact with €31m Real Madrid star who Arne Slot LOVES | OneFootball

While Liverpool remain dominant on the pitch, starting this season under Arne Slot better than they have done in any previous season in the club's history, the urge to make new signings still lingers.

This summer was noticeably quiet, with just Federico Chiesa coming through the door, who has been predominantly injured during his stay so far, while Giorgi Mamardashvili is not set to arrive until next season as part of a condition of his transfer.

And in addition to the lack of transfers on the Red side of Merseyside, there also exists the possibility of a mass exodus, as Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil Van Dijk still have uncertain futures as a result of the stalled ongoing contract negotiations with Liverpool executives.

Each player will be allowed to enter talks with other clubs from January 1 and unless significant breakthroughs are made in agreeing terms for an extended stay with the Reds, Liverpool will be without some/all of their core spine next season.

The ongoing contract saga

It is unlikely that Liverpool will only just be paying attention to the contract crisis that awaits them, with negotiations likely to have been taking place over the last few years.

However, given the different profiles of the players, despite each of them playing a monumental role in the success of this Liverpool side over the past half a decade, reaching agreements is less than straightforward.

Trent remains in the prime of his career, but he has not experienced life at a different football club before and has notable ambitions that he is hoping to achieve in the remainder of his time on the pitch - such as winning the Ballon d'Or as a fullback, which may be more achievable at a club like Real Madrid.

In addition, Van Dijk, who has been staggeringly good since his ACL tear in 2020, finds himself nearing the end of his career, and although he remains one of the elite Premier League defenders, the club's willingness to invest in a player whose attributes could deteriorate is a valid concern.

And then we come to Salah, who continues to put up the same consistent and world-class attacking numbers that he did when he joined in 2017.

Now in his eighth season, it is beyond belief that the Egyptian King is still as effective as he used to be and so his reliability cannot be dismissed.

But while already on a reported wage of £350,000 a week, there is little in cash terms that Liverpool can offer him, without significantly damaging the wage structure in the long term, and amidst interest from the wealthy PIF-funded Saudi Pro League, Salah may want to cash-in before his retirement.

Given the significance of potentially losing Salah this summer, the club have already been looking at possible replacements, should contract extension negotiations collapse in the end.

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Liverpool to bring in another Diaz

According to reports from Spanish news outlet Fichajes, Liverpool are one of three teams that have asked Real Madrid about Morrocan international Brahim Diaz, alongside AC Milan and Juventus.

On Liverpool's interest in the player, they said: "Finally, Liverpool appear, where Arne Slot is reportedly considering the Spaniard as an interesting alternative given the uncertainty surrounding Mohamed Salah's contract renewal.

"The Dutch coach particularly values ​​Brahim's vision and dynamism, who could play an important role in the red team."

The 25-year-old plays as an inside forward, predominantly on the right-hand side of the pitch, in the role that Salah currently occupies for Liverpool.

While his returns for Real Madrid are limited, with 21 goals and assists in 44 appearances last season, his minutes on the pitch equate to 23 full games, so the potential is there should he be given more responsibility.

And away from competing with Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Endrick at Madrid, Diaz has scored in each of the last four AFCON qualifiers for Morocco - a run which includes seven goals scored, including a hattrick against Lesotho in his last appearance.

Should Salah make the move away from Merseyside and Diaz were to come in as his replacement, then we would also be faced with the prospect of having Luis Diaz and Brahim Diaz on each wing - which in and of itself is funny.

The Moroccan international is currently valued at €31m according to footballtransfers.com and given he currently plays at the footballing juggernaut of Real Madrid, Liverpool will not be able to get the player for cheap, although the Reds' sporting directors are known for their shrewd business in the transfer market.