Liverpool have new contract question to answer as one signed and another nears
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Echo or go back to LFC Live.
Dominik Szoboszlai is close to signing a new contract and Liverpool have several other potential deals that need to be assessedThey may not be quite as exciting as transfers. But new contracts being agreed with key players is always a sign of encouragement for Liverpool supporters.Dominik Szoboszlai looks set to be the latest to reaffirm their long-term future at Anfield, with the Hungary international close to putting pen to paper on an extended deal.With the midfielder still having almost two years remaining on his current agreement, the matter wasn't as pressing as most with the Reds in danger of losing nine first-team squad members on a free transfer next summer.Who, then, should be the priority for the Liverpool hierarchy in terms of brokering a new deal?
Our ECHO writers take a look...Ian DoyleRegardless of business in the transfer market, the speculation surrounding the future of Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes beyond the summer window is in danger of impacting talks over new contracts.The Reds have been caught out somewhat in recent years by the departure of free agents, with Andy Robertson, Ibrahima Konate and Mohamed Salah officially leaving at the end of last month, while Trent Alexander-Arnold would have gone for nothing the previous summer had Real Madrid not wanted him for the unnecessarily-expanded FIFA Club World Cup.While allowing players on big wages to leave can often work in favour of clubs, there's little doubt Liverpool aren't quite as adept at bringing in free agents as they are at letting them go.That's why those nine names at present due to exit in less than 12 months will surely loom large in the minds of the recruitment team.They won't all be offered deals. In fact, it's likely Liverpool will be happy to allow most to leave.
The goalkeeper may not be as consistently available as in the past, but he demonstrated at the World Cup for a poor Brazil that he is still one of the best in his position, and by some distance the first choice at Liverpool.Having triggered their option of a one-year extension before the summer, the Reds should be looking to offer Alisson at least another year.Only 18 months older than the baby-faced Jordan Pickford, the Brazilian still has time on his side and Liverpool would be wise to at least attempt to extend his Anfield stay during a period of what is likely to be further seismic change in the squad.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageMark JonesAndoni Iraola could not have been more effusive in his praise for Curtis Jones at his introductory press conference, and one look around at the going fees for midfielders this summer makes you wonder if Liverpool are in danger of not appreciating the talent they have in front of them.Whatever Jones thinks about a move to Inter Milan, and repeating the type of success enjoyed by Scott McTominay at Napoli is sure to be tempting him, he will also have ties that bind him to home, and a new contract for a homegrown player who has his best years ahead of him surely has to be on the agenda.Iraola hinted as much anyway, and while Jones will face a fight to get a consistent spot in the starting XI, it is no different to the types of battles he's had his entire Reds career.If Liverpool lose Jones they are only going to have to replace him, and as a result they might end up paying a hefty whack for an English midfielder capable of the type of things that Jones is.Liverpool could regret it if they end up letting him go for next to nothing, and the confidence generated from a new deal could see him come on leaps and bounds.