Ian Wright stunned by ‘Magnificent’ double Liverpool announcement
Arne Slot is patiently waiting to get his hands on his first trophy with Liverpool.
The Reds are set to lift the Premier League trophy, but Arsenal’s victory on Sunday (20 April) means three more points are needed on Merseyside.
While the title is yet to be confirmed, Slot already seems to have one eye on the summer transfer window, having finally secured some important deals at Anfield.
Liverpool get signing boost ahead of the summer
Although there have been concerns over key contracts at Anfield throughout the campaign so far, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have finally committed their futures to the club.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is reportedly set to leave Merseyside for a move to Real Madrid, although keeping two of those three players is no mean feat.
There will be pressure on Slot to deliver once more after it has been suggested that Liverpool’s success has been somewhat of a fluke this term.
Ian Wright feels that his work so far will have given Slot a headstart in the transfer window, though, as, when asked about van Dijk’s new contract, he admitted on the Kelly and Wrighty Show: “Magnificent.
“Magnificent news for Liverpool football club, for the fans, for Virgil himself, because I know how much he loves the place, and you add to that Mo Salah signing as well.
“Like you say, people, we don’t know what Arne Slot’s team is yet because he’s come in and he’s taken Jurgen Klopp’s team and they’ve won the league, so we don’t even know what changes are coming, so it’s very exciting.
“To have them two signed up, ready to go with the players you’re going to bring, it must be amazing now to be a Liverpool fan, a prospect who might be coming to Liverpool because it’s a very exciting place with a manager that’s probably for me should get manager of the year if they get it over the line.
“But at the same time, magnificent news for Liverpool. Brilliant at this stage, they’re going to win the league, keep their two great players and their manager.”
Liverpool already showing Premier League intent
It was looking slightly nervy at points throughout the campaign, but, as Wright says, securing the futures of both Salah and van Dijk is massive news for the Reds.
| Played | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Salah | 33 | 27 | 18 |
| van Dijk | 33 | 2 | 1 |
On the most obvious level, two world-class players are showing no signs of slowing down and will likely continue to play big parts in Slot’s team next season, as they seek another year of success at the top of the Premier League table.
However, as has been pointed out, securing the future of both players sends a message to every other club and players to say there is something exciting happening at Anfield, which could well attract new signings to Merseyside.
With Van Dijk being the captain, a precedent could be set by him too, which sends a message to all the current players who are on the cusp of contract negotiations that the right decision is to stay.
There is no doubt that Slot needs to add to his side, but his two biggest deals ahead of the new season could be the ones he has already done, for their impact both on and off the pitch.