'Look what happened to Marcus Rashford!' - Liverpool sent warning over Virgil van Dijk's £400,000-a-week contract with 'not the same' message

Manchester United found out the hard way that fresh terms do not always act as motivation after handing a lucrative deal to home-grown star Rashford in 2023. Despite pulling in £325,000-a-week at Old Trafford, the England international struggled for form and was ultimately loaned out to Aston Villa in the winter transfer window of 2025.

Liverpool have been digging deep in a bid to keep prized assets at Anfield, with extensions being agreed with Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah and Dutch defender Van Dijk. They are proven performers at the highest level, but will be turning 33 and 34 respectively this summer.

Ex-United striker and former Premier League star Louis Saha has told Mega Dice of the risks involved in big-money contracts: "It's always risky. When you give a player lots of money, their attitude can change. You always see players sign new contracts, and they’re just not the same - look at what happened to Marcus Rashford. We all wonder what happened there.

"But Van Dijk has been there for years, he’s the captain, one of the most consistent players ever since he arrived. I think he’s done enough to really deserve the contract. He’s shown loyalty to the club, so it’s great for him."

Van Dijk and Salah have both committed to new two-year deals that will keep them on Merseyside until 2027. They are preparing to enjoy a Premier League title party, with Liverpool closing in on their coronation as the kings of English football in 2024-25.