Virgil van Dijk among 11 Liverpool players facing contract uncertainty despite transfer stance

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For much of the past decade, club owners Fenway Sports Group have been comfortable allowing players in their 30s to depart on a free transfer upon the expiry of their deals.The prevailing thinking behind closed doors has been that certain squad members offer greater value during their final 12 months than if sold at a knockdown price, which would leave a vacancy requiring costly reinforcement.This approach has certainly been applied to the likes of James Milner, Roberto Firmino and Gini Wijnaldum, while Andy Robertson became the latest to follow suit by departing at the end of last season alongside Mohamed Salah, whose contract was effectively terminated by mutual consent with a year still remaining.However, losing Ibrahima Konaté as a free agent at just 27 falls well outside that model, and there was considerable dismay behind the scenes that the new Real Madrid signing was unable to reach an agreement on fresh terms despite nearly two years of negotiations, reports the Liverpool Echo.Trent Alexander-Arnold technically departed for a fee of around $13 million back in June 2025, though the Real Madrid right-back would equally have walked away for nothing had a deal not been struck to fast-track his move to the Spanish capital, enabling him to participate in that month's Club World Cup.Allowing players in their 20s to leave on a free is not considered acceptable practice at Anfield, even if the club adopt a more lenient stance regarding those aged over 30. With nearly a dozen players entering the final stages of their contracts, what does the year ahead hold for Liverpool?Curtis Jones faces an uncertain future as he enters the last year of his deal.

The midfielder had attracted interest from Italian giants Inter, but their bid fell short of the $29.4 million mark last month, with the Reds holding out for closer to $46.8 million.Curtis Jones has been linked with a move away from Liverpool this summer(Image: (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images))Liverpool would ideally retain Jones and resume negotiations with his representatives, yet no talks are currently scheduled, and it remains to be seen whether new head coach Andoni Iraola can guarantee the kind of playing time that might prompt a change of heart within the player's camp.Nottingham Forest have been linked with Jones following their $155 million windfall from selling Elliot Anderson to Manchester City. The highly-regarded shot-stopper had the 12-month extension clause in his contract activated in March, affording Liverpool additional time and flexibility to determine their strategy for the No.1 role.Speaking in May following the 1-1 draw with Chelsea, Joe Gomez, the longest-serving Reds player since arriving at the club in 2015, admitted uncertainty over his own prospects."I don't know [what is next] is the honest answer," Gomez said.

Whatever's meant to be will be, but I'm so grateful to have had this time here at this club.Joe Gomez was noncommittal about his future at the club(Image: Getty Images)"I always will be grateful to have had 11 years at a place like this. At present, though, he remains the sole experienced option at centre-back following Konaté's departure.Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni will offer competition this campaign but at 20 and 19 years old respectively at the time of writing, Gomez may be required to remain for the time being.Wataru Endo has reached the final 12 months of his four-year contract signed when he arrived from Stuttgart in summer 2023 for $21 million.The Japanese midfielder has claimed on social media that he has retired from international football, which could help extend his club career, though he has seldom been a regular starter during his spell on Merseyside.He might be considered a disposable asset this summer but, at 33 years of age, the versatile Endo could also be regarded as someone capable of providing cover, especially at centre-back, and the possibility of him departing next summer on a free transfer appears likely at this juncture.Harvey Elliott is arguably the most fascinating of the 11 players whose deals run out next year.