Liverpool Backed to Sell Salah and Van Dijk to Make Room for Isak and Wirtz

‎Former Liverpool forward Stan Collymore has outlined a scenario in which the club could offload both Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk during the summer of 2026. Speaking to GOAL, Collymore suggested that head coach Arne Slot is expected to be given freedom to plan for the future, even if that involves difficult decisions regarding long-serving stars.

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Stan Collymore believes Liverpool may part ways with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk in 2026 as Arne Slot reshapes the squad around Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz.

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‎Liverpool, the reigning Premier League champions, invested heavily ahead of the 2025-26 season. Florian Wirtz arrived from Germany in a deal worth £116 million ($155m), while Swedish striker Alexander Isak joined for £125m ($168m), marking a record-breaking spending spree.

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‎Despite those eye-catching fees, both players have endured struggles with form and fitness. Nevertheless, they are viewed as central components of Slot’s long-term vision as the club seeks to stay competitive at the highest level domestically and in Europe.

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‎Maintaining that level, Collymore argues, requires continuous squad evolution. High-profile departures are as necessary as marquee signings when elite teams refresh their core.

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‎Salah and Van Dijk, both modern-day icons at Anfield, signed new contracts last season running until 2027. However, Salah has recently drawn attention for a public outburst that raised questions about his future, while Van Dijk is set to turn 35 in July.

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‎When asked whether Salah’s legacy at Liverpool remains intact, Collymore was unequivocal. Speaking in association with BetWright betting, he told GOAL:

‎“I think he’s up there with them. His numbers add up, his trophies add up. I think he's not a victim of modernity, but he knows that, in this day and age with a camera stuck in front of you and people filing live on social media, that any words go around the world very quickly.”

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‎Collymore highlighted Liverpool’s global reach and the intense scrutiny players face from international supporters, many of whom follow individual stars as closely as the club itself. He pointed to the rise of football’s “cult of personality,” comparing Salah’s status to the branding power established by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

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‎Looking ahead, Collymore believes the current season will not be Salah’s last in a Liverpool shirt, but major changes could follow.

‎“For the remainder of the season he will play,” Collymore said. “But for Liverpool to go on and be Arne Slot 2.0, one or both of him and Van Dijk may well go in the summer.”

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‎He added that the contract extensions may have been designed to ease the transition for incoming stars such as Isak, Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike. However, if Liverpool are to fully hand leadership to the new arrivals, tough exits may be unavoidable.

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‎Collymore also suggested Salah may feel overlooked amid the excitement surrounding the new signings, before concluding that Van Dijk could remain one year longer, while Salah’s departure appears more likely.

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‎At 33, Salah continues to attract interest from Saudi Pro League clubs willing to offer lucrative deals. The Egyptian has scored 250 goals in 421 appearances for Liverpool, collecting Premier League, Champions League, Golden Boot, and PFA Player of the Year honours along the way, but his time in English football may be nearing its end.