With every milestone in the Liverpool season, there seems to be a new headline about the nagging issue that has been stupid about it.
After the exit from the Champions League to Paris Saint-Germain had established a new round of contract questions, Virgil van Dijk's answer was that he had “no idea” if he was still in the club the last answer that came to the attention.
The chance remains of course that he is, but until every deal remains signed and sealed, there is a sense of uncertainty about what the extremely likely champions will look like next season. It is really a strange situation that continues to come true.
The smart money is still on Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah who come to an agreement and stay in Liverpool, with the future of Trent Alexander-Arnold less sure while Real Madrid continues to float.
But while the clock and those contracts drain, the possibility must be taken into consideration.
Maybe they just ask for too much money, or too many years in their deal to the taste of Liverpool? Or maybe the hierarchy of the Reds just wants a clean slate for Arne Slot to continue the beautiful work that he has done so far? It is a fascinating situation and one that will all unfold in the coming weeks.
But what would the Post-Van Dijk, Salah and Alexander-Arnold World look like? And how could Slot prepare his team with a number of smart new additions? We have looked at the possibilities.
Goalkeeper and defense
If the trio leaves, then this is the area where the biggest unrest would be, and that should not be added by sending Alisson and immediately installing Giorgi Mamardashvili as the new No. 1.
Right back can conor bradley step forward and start his his, even if the Reds could do with signing a backup for him, while Ibrahima Konate should assume the mantle of the Senior Center-Back in every absence of Van Dijk.
The rest of the defense could then consist of a few new additions, and specifically a double deal from the former club Bournemouth of Sporting Director Richard Hughes, with Center-Rug Dean Huijsen and left back Milos Kerkez both on the Reds Radar.
Jarell Quansah, Andy Robertson and potential Joe Gomez, if he doesn't want to leave, all get a good part of the games.
Midfield
The window in the summer transfer from 2023 should go down as one of the best of Liverpool ever, with the complete makeover they now reached in terms of a likely Premier League title.
Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have all been vital this season for the efforts of the Reds, and they all deserve to keep their starting places in the team for the next campaign.
Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott will also occur regularly, and there is probably room for another attacking midfielder, since goals will be lost elsewhere. Wataru Endo could also stay if he wishes.
ATTACK
How do you replace Salah? Well in reality you can't. Liverpool will not be able to bring in a right -sided, left -wing attacker of the quality of the Egyptian who will run the ground, and so a compromise may be made with a different approach.
Luis Diaz is not often seen on the right for Liverpool, simply because Salah is always there, but that can be an option for lock because he seems to go in a different direction, with Ben Doak available in reserve after his fine loan in Middlesbrough. Federico Chiesa seems destined to leave.
Cody Gakpo looks to the left of the attack at home, and can thrive with more goal scores that is being put on him, and then the big move comes into Center-Forward, where a mega-money deal for Alexander Isak could completely change the Dimensions of Liverpool if the number 9 became the most important goal scorer.
Time looks up for Darwin Nunez in Anfield, while Diogo Jota is still hindered with injuries, and so a big game on the market appears to be number 9, which also happens with Salah, and at the moment there are few larger movements than one for the Swede that could easily wear the goals of Salah.
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