Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has disclosed that the club were prepared to let Salah and Van Dijk walk away on free transfers if contract negotiations broke down. Despite the emotional weight of potentially losing Salah and Van Dijk, the club insisted they would not compromise their wage structure, even for two of their most important players.
The futures of Salah and Van Dijk dominated headlines throughout the season as both entered the final months of their contracts. Salah, already the third-highest scorer in Liverpool history, and Van Dijk, the club’s captain and defensive leader, were approaching the end of their deals with no immediate breakthrough.
During the saga, Salah admitted he felt “more out than in,” raising fears that Salah and Van Dijk might leave the club simultaneously.
In April, however, Liverpool finally secured two-year extensions for Salah and Van Dijk, ending months of speculation.
Werner Praises Hughes’ Handling of Salah and Van Dijk Talks
Werner highlighted how director of football Richard Hughes remained patient and composed throughout negotiations with Salah-Van Dijk.
In James Pearce’s book Walk On, Werner said he frequently contacted Hughes for updates on Salah-Van Dijk, only to be reassured each time that the situation was under control.
“Richard would say, ‘Tom, it will all be good in the end.’ He conducts business respectfully. He has a plan and executes it—even in the case of Salah and Van Dijk,” Werner noted.
Despite the pressure to retain Salah-Van Dijk, Werner revealed Liverpool were ready to walk away.
“If Richard had called and said the chasm was too big with Salah and Van Dijk, I would have respected that,” Werner said.
Prepared to Lose Salah and Van Dijk for Free
Werner stressed that Liverpool’s structure and long-term vision meant they could not afford to overpay, even for Salah &Van Dijk. The club’s stance was clear: if demands exceeded internal limits, Salah &Van Dijk would have been allowed to leave without transfer fees.
According to Werner, the ownership trusts its executives fully and avoids interfering—even in major cases like Salah and Van Dijk.
The chairman also praised Michael Edwards, calling him “the preeminent father of success,” and linking his return to maintaining long-term stability for squads featuring stars like Salah &Van Dijk. Edwards reportedly rejected several opportunities before returning to oversee FSG’s broader football strategy, which includes pursuing a second club—an expansion he believes is crucial for supporting future squads beyond the era of Salah &Van Dijk.
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Slot’s Appointment and Success After the Salah and Van Dijk Contract Renewals
Werner confirmed that Arne Slot was always the first choice to succeed Jurgen Klopp. After the crucial decisions regarding Salah-Van Dijk, Slot guided Liverpool to the Premier League title, exceeding expectations in his debut season.
“Arne is authentic,” Werner said. “He’s not trying to be Klopp or Guardiola. He’s his own man—and that authenticity helped him manage a squad led by Salah and Van Dijk.”