The January transfer window opens on Thursday, kicking off a month-long scramble to finalize the reshuffle that will cover the rest of the squad. Premier League season. For clubs vying for top spot, this is a chance to step up their fight for a trophy – or several. For teams looking to avoid relegation, this is an opportunity to bring in reinforcements to finish the job.
But it's not just about moving players between clubs. Now is the time for clubs to worry about stars approaching the end of their contracts (be it free agency in the summer of 2026 or 2027) and renew them on new terms before they are persuaded to move elsewhere.
So it's time for another edition of the Save, Reset or Extend book – and this time we're looking at Liverpool. Mark Ogden and Gab Marcotti take on the role of sporting director to look at the issues facing Liverpool on all fronts, from signings and departures to contract extensions. Let's get started!
Liverpool: keep, reset or extend?
• League position as of December 30: Fourth, 32 points. (Last year’s result: 1st place, 84 points)
• Realistic Goal: Qualifying for the Champions League through the Premier League or by winning the Champions League or FA Cup.
1. Salah is currently absent from AFCON and his future remains uncertain: how do you feel about your star player?
Ogden: Two weeks ago, right after Mohamed Salahthis is debatable comments about your gaming timeI'd say Liverpool should be prepared to let him go in January if they receive a ridiculous offer from Saudi Arabia.
But the subsequent trauma Alexander Isak – facing two to three months out with a broken leg – changes everything. With Isak injured, Liverpool cannot afford to voluntarily part ways with their top scorer, despite his feelings for manager Arne Slot.
Isak could return and score goals at the start of March, but that is the best-case scenario, so as a result of Salah his future will now have to wait until the summer.
0:53
Arne Slot: Me and Mohamed Salah refused an interview in Leeds
Liverpool manager Arne Slote has revealed that he and Mohamed Salah have walked back the Egyptian's explosive interview earlier this month.
Marcotti: A person has a contract: if he wants to stay, he stays. This is the reality even if these supposed massive proposals from Saudi Arabia materialize.
We know Salah is not leaving for money – if he did, he would leave as a free agent in the summer. The only thing that could force Salah to leave is the realization that he will no longer be a regular starter. He's not there yet, and if Isak isn't there, he might never get there.
I'd like to see Slot come up with a system that masks Salah's weaknesses and plays to his strengths. (The 4-4-2 version we saw at Inter Milan could be a solution.) Sloth has tinkered with so many systems that he may try using it once Salah returns.
2. Isak is injured: replace him from within or sign another striker?
Ogden: Liverpool are unlikely to concede Isak's goals when he is sidelined because the £125m summer signing has scored just two Premier League goals since arriving from Newcastle. But if his strike at Spurs was the catalyst for his improved form, Isak's absence will be a bigger blow.
In any case, while this is a major setback for Liverpool, it would be foolish to rush the market for a replacement in January. Salah will return no later than mid-January, and Slot can already count on Hugo Ekiteke, Florian Wirtz, Cody Agat, Federico Chiesa and teenager Ngumoha River as attack options. Add goals Dominik Szoboszlai and Liverpool have plenty of cover for Isak.
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Do Liverpool need to sign Isak's replacement in January?
Gab Marcotti and Julien Lawrence discuss Alexander Isak's injury against Tottenham and discuss whether Liverpool will need to bring in a replacement striker.
Marcotti: Assuming no one else gets injured, you won't sign another striker. You don't need another guy to replace someone who contributed very little and couldn't reliably prove that he deserves to start.
Have Ekikike play center forward and when he comes out you have Cody Gakpo. Or choose two strikers and include Florian Wirtz, Federico Chiesa and Salah (when he returns).
– January needs of the Premier League's top teams, ranked by urgency
– Keep, reset or extend: steps Manchester United must take in January
– Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe, Holland? Who was the top scorer in 2025?
3. Bring more reinforcements to other positions or stay with the Liverpool team?
Ogden: They need to sign a central midfielder.
Even if Virgil van Dijk And Ibrahima Konate To continue to avoid injury, they need reliable cover or even a replacement. Joe Gomez you can't be counted on to stay fit and sign a contract in the summer Giovanni Leonijust 19 years old, is out until next season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Liverpool fail to sign contract Mark Gay from Crystal Palace and they may have missed their best chance to sign England defender. ButGiven that his contract expires in June and Palace could receive a good offer, it would make sense to try again in early January.
Marcotti: Whether it's Guei or someone else, they need another option – and it needs to be starting caliber.
I can understand the reluctance to spend a lot of money in January because there is rarely a benefit in that situation, but then they should at least look for a loan for someone they like who is presentable in the role.
4. Elliott's Credit Aston Villa was a disaster: should Liverpool try to recall him?
Ogden: Absolutely. Harvey Elliott Was the star of the tournament when England won the European Under-21 Championship last summer, but Unai Emery gave the 22-year-old just 97 minutes of Premier League action during his loan spell at Aston Villa.
Elliott has not appeared in any competition since coming on as a substitute for four minutes in the Europa League win over Feyenoord on October 2. But due to FIFA rules, Elliott cannot play for another club after representing Liverpool and Villa this season, so Liverpool must agree a deal to bring him back to Anfield.
Marcotti: It's not difficult. Bring him home. He is a versatile and hard-working player who can do the job in both midfield and on the wing. He didn't play much last season (though he did make 28 appearances) but Liverpool are in a different situation this year.
It also makes sense because with a year left on his contract, you'll want to know if it's worth extending.
5. Robertson and Konate are out of contract in the summer: extend or let them leave for free?
Ogden: I would suggest Andy Robertson new annual contract as soon as possible. It doesn't matter that he turns 32 in March – Robertson's experience and reliability have been crucial this season but are underrated. He definitely has a role to play for now Milos Kerkez trying to adjust to life at Anfield.
I think Ibrahima Konate that's another matter. At 26, he is at the peak of his career and should have agreed to a new contract at least a year ago, but his performance in 2025 does not require an extension and it looks like his mind has already been made up at Anfield.
Marcotti: I don't think Robertson wants to leave, so I think he'll take a one or even two year extension given he's 31, provided he accepts that he's a team player now.
It feels like a repeat of last year with three upcoming free agents (Salah, Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold). The difference is that while Salah and Van Dijk agreed to two-year extensions because they are older, Konate's age means he won't do it and shouldn't.
I don't think Liverpool should move on from Konate now, but they need to be disciplined about how much they are willing to spend, just like they did with Trent Alexander-Arnold. I also expect Slote and the club's analytics experts to come up with a compelling explanation for why it has gotten so much worse and whether it can be fixed.
6. Liverpool have a number of contracts expiring in 2027: Alisson, Van Dijk, Wataru Endo, Salah, Curtis Jones, Joe Gomez and Stefan Bajcetic. Who should renew now?
Ogden: I would try to fix it Alisson Becker And Curtis Jones for a long-term extension, but the rest of them have not yet been decided.
Van Dijk and Salah are obviously club legends, but both have shown signs of slowing down this season after signing two-year deals in 2025. We'll see how they finish 2026 – if they're still at Anfield in 12 months.
Wataru Endo, Stefan Bajcetic And Joe Gomez Everyone's situation is different, but none of them should expect a new deal anytime soon.
Marcotti: I'm not sure Alisson made that automatic choice. He has been injured in each of the last three seasons. But with a goalkeeper of his 33 years of age, we can wait a little.
Renewing Jones' contract is a no-brainer – at a reasonable price – and it also gives you leverage over Alexis Mac Allisterwhose deal runs until 2028.
I agree the others don't need to rush, although once Bajcetic is fit I'd like to see him get some minutes. Before this injury he was a very promising player.
7. Sloth's contract expires in June 2027: reward him with a new deal or wait until this turbulent season is over?
Ogden: It feels like Slot weathered the early season storm and is back to normal, but let's see how the season ends. Liverpool could end the season as Champions League winners, but they could equally miss out on a top-four finish and remain trophyless.
It sounds crazy, but despite winning the Premier League last season, Slott still needs to prove he deserves a contract extension.
Marcotti: It is generally accepted that coaches do not want to start a season with only one year left on their contract because it undermines their authority. I think Liverpool have already shown with Salah, Van Dijk and Trent last year that this is not necessarily the case.
If you have a well-run club with a strong presence of a sporting director and a general director of football, a good coach like Slote won't need a few years of security on his contract. Adult slot. He knows he hasn't played this season and I don't think he'll lose his temper if you don't make a deal with him.
On the other hand, if he finds the right balance and changes it, be sure to reward him in the spring.
