Liverpool supporters have been left reeling after a stunning revelation from club chairman Tom Werner, who admitted he was prepared to allow Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk to leave Anfield for free during last summer’s tense contract standoff.
The confession appears in James Pearce’s new book Walk On: Inside Arne Slot’s Liverpool, where Werner reflects on one of the most dramatic behind-the-scenes moments of recent years. According to the chairman, Liverpool were ready to take an uncompromising stance—even if it meant watching two of the club’s greatest modern-day figures walk away without a transfer fee.
For a fanbase still adjusting to life after Jurgen Klopp, the idea of losing Salah and Van Dijk for nothing borders on unthinkable. These aren’t just players; they’re cornerstones of Liverpool’s revival—faces of trophy parades, European nights, and Premier League glory. Yet Werner insists he was “fully prepared” to let both men enter free agency if they refused to agree to the club’s stricter contract terms.
Werner also revealed how closely he monitored the negotiations, frequently calling sporting director Richard Hughes for updates—particularly regarding Salah, whose future had been clouded by rumours, Saudi interest and mixed signals from his camp. Each time Werner asked where things stood, Hughes delivered the same composed verdict: “It will all work out.”
The chairman praised Hughes for staying calm even as pressure mounted, saying the sporting director “handles business with real respect” and never deviates from his plan. Still, Werner didn’t shy away from the truth: the club was ready to accept the possibility that both stars might leave.
In the end, Salah and Van Dijk agreed to extend their contracts for two more years—a moment many supporters saw as a stabilising win during the early days of Arne Slot’s tenure.
But months later, the landscape looks very different.
Liverpool’s uneven start to the season has placed both players under harsher scrutiny than ever. Salah, once the side’s unstoppable match-winner, has struggled for consistency. Van Dijk, long regarded as the Premier League’s elite defensive figure, has had his leadership and form questioned as the team’s defensive frailty continues.
Now, Werner’s admission raises a provocative question:
Would Liverpool be in a better position today if the club had begun a full-scale rebuild instead of renewing their contracts?
The debate is fierce and ongoing. Some supporters argue that sentimentality overshadowed long-term planning. Others believe the criticism ignores deeper structural issues within the squad.
What’s certain is that both players are again approaching the twilight of their deals—meaning Liverpool may soon face the same dilemma all over again.
The next chapter at Anfield may prove just as dramatic as the last.
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