Liverpool supporters have been getting sick and tired of contract talk over the past two years, with a number of high-profile situations interrupting the 2024/25 and 2025/26 campaigns.
But if fans thought they had seen the back of that, then they should be prepared for 2026/27, which could be the worst year yet in this regard.
Nine players are currently due to depart at the end of next season, with stars such as Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker likely to be playing their final campaigns with Liverpool. Along with the star defensive duo, seven more players could be leaving in the next year.
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Although it is not certain that either Van Dijk or Alisson will leave at the end of the season, the current expectation seems to be that both will be going.
Van Dijk is perhaps more likely to stay, but having seen what happened to Mohamed Salah’s record-breaking contract, it is far more probable that the captain will go after nine-and-a-half years with Liverpool.
While that will mean two big Anfield farewells are in order on the last day of the season against Bournemouth, that game will also likely be the end of Wataru Endo, Freddie Woodman and Joe Gomez‘s time with the Reds.
Though all three could leave during the ongoing window, the trio seem more likely to stay as of now. Woodman may get an extension depending on how happy he is playing third-fiddle, and he could maybe move up to second-choice if Alisson leaves. But along with Endo and Gomez, the time will probably be right to make his exit.
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One more who will see his contract out is likely to be Kostas Tsimikas, who, after returning from a loan spell at Roma, will play back-up to Milos Kerkez next season.
Tsimikas has been a good servant across what will end up being seven years with Liverpool, but it would be a shock if his terms are extended.
Three players could depart in the coming weeks
Not all of these nine players will have the luxury of going into their final contracted year with Liverpool. Some will be sold in what will be the Reds’ last chance to make some money on their sales.
Curtis Jones is the most likely to fall into this category, although there have been recent claims that the Scouser could still stay and sign a new deal.
That feels like public negotiation tactics from Liverpool for now, though, and the most probable outcome is still that Jones departs.
Meanwhile, Stefan Bajcetic and Harvey Elliott could make the Reds some profit, and should not be short of suitors if Liverpool feel the need to offload them now.
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Of the nine set to go into their final seasons with Liverpool, there is perhaps a chance that up to five of them could stay beyond 2027.
Van Dijk and Alisson are the most obvious two, and it should not be ruled out that either veteran will agree fresh terms on a short-term extension.
Elliott will also be desperate to impress Andoni Iraola this pre-season, and the 23-year-old may feel that he can do enough to at least plant a seed in the new boss’ mind that he can contribute.
Meanwhile, Bajcetic has had his injury problems, and Liverpool may feel they need a bit more time before making a decision over his future, in which case an extension would not be a huge surprise.
Finally, though a new deal for Jones currently looks unlikely, the arrival of Iraola means that several things could take unexpected turns in terms of squad planning. The midfielder could be one who benefits from that.
For Woodman, Endo, Gomez and Tsimikas, though, the end of the road will surely arrive next summer. For the other five members of the 2027 club, reprieve could still arrive.
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