After seeing key players Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate run down their contracts and join Real Madrid in the past year, Liverpool supporters are growing worried over Dominik Szoboszlai.
Had Alexander-Arnold and Konate been tied down to the Reds with two years left on their contracts – the stage Szoboszlai finds himself at now – they would likely still be Liverpool players. Real’s interest would never have been allowed to develop.
Head into the final two years of any player’s contract, though, and anything really can happen. That is the worry for Liverpool and Szoboszlai, and with negotiations over a new contract still at a standstill, Tottenham spending £185m on Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes shows why the Reds cannot afford to let the Hungarian go.
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Liverpool cannot afford Dominik Szoboszlai replacement
Liverpool supporters will not have been the only football fans raising eyebrows over the money Spurs have forked out to sign two of the Premier League’s standout central midfielders this summer.
Though both Tonali and Fernandes are excellent players, they are surely not on Szoboszlai’s level. Neither is Elliot Anderson, who is on the verge of joining Manchester City for £116m.
All this goes to show is that if Liverpool do find themselves in a position where they need to replace their No. 8 in a year or two, they are going to have to spend a huge amount to do it.
They could, of course, try and sign a cheaper player this summer who can grow into the role, but such is the distortion deals like those for Tonali and Fernandes have put on the market, prices have shot up across the board. Liverpool are far, far better sticking with what they have.
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Szoboszlai’s negotiating hand is strengthened again
Nobody quite knows what Szoboszlai is asking for to extend his contract at Liverpool, but given negotiations have been going on for a while without an agreement, it is safe to say that there is a difference between his demands, and what the Reds are willing to pay him.
The 25-year-old’s hand was strengthened by his performances during an excellent personal season, though, and the money being spent on lesser players will boost it once again.
Liverpool need to head this off quickly and agree terms with Szoboszlai before his position gets even stronger.
Even though the Hungary captain is not perfect, and still has a fair bit of learning to do, he is virtually irreplaceable in this current Liverpool team.
You’re Richard Hughes, how are you responding when Real Madrid call to ask about Szoboszlai?
What price are you quoting?
Allowing him to go into the final two years of his contract would put big pressure on Liverpool to not only sell him next summer, but to bring in a suitable replacement.
Alexander-Arnold and Konate have trodden a path from Liverpool to Madrid, and if the Reds cannot agree on an extension with Szoboszlai, they know by now that he will have no issue following their lead. The Reds cannot allow for the knock-on effects that will cause. This now has to be a number one priority.
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