Former Liverpool star fears Salah and Trent could follow Klopp out the door
GLEN JOHNSON fears Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mo Salah will follow Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool if the club's new boss struggles next season.
Manager Klopp announced that he will leave his job at the end of the season.
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Alexander-Arnold and Salah have less than eighteen months left on their contracts.
And former Head defender Johnson is concerned that if Klopp's successor does not get off the ground, the nightmare scenario of an exodus of big names will follow.
Defender TAA and superstar Salah could talk to foreign clubs in January if they do not agree new deals.
Johnson, who made 200 appearances in all competitions for the club between 2009 and 2015, said: “Let's be honest, who isn't going to take Trent Alexander-Arnold or Mo Salah on the cheap?
“I don't believe we will see a big exodus from Liverpool this summer if the contract situations are not resolved now. They won't because the players want to know what is going on.
“If they have a bad start next season, we will discuss in a year's time whether they have six months left on their contract. If that happens, Liverpool will be in trouble as Trent and Mo can attract interest from any club they want.
“They don't need to take any risks and if Liverpool have a bad season after Jurgen's departure, we could potentially see an exodus.”
Klopp's shock announcement that he will leave Anfield after nine years at the helm could also have a huge impact on Liverpool's recruitment plans in the closing season.
Johnson said Betfred: “If Liverpool try to sign a top player this summer, they will want to know who replaces Jurgen?
“Jurgen draws people in and Jose Mourinho did the same.
“These are examples of managers that top players want to play for.
“You have to get the players excited to encourage them to move to Liverpool. The club itself has a great appeal to players. But knowing who the manager is is also very important.”
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Anfield legend Xabi Alonso is a firm favorite to take over, and former England right-back Johnson said: “It would certainly be a good choice.
“He is doing a fantastic job at Bayer Leverkusen and he has the minerals for it. But the right choice is something that no one knows at the moment.
“Whichever manager comes in, he will have a super tough task and he will need time. Every manager who takes office after that essentially puts his head in the guillotine.
“Being a legend of the club and a fan favorite means Xabi will be given time, which doesn't necessarily mean he will be successful.
“But the fans will be more patient with him and give him more leeway than they would with a manager who has no link with the club yet.”
Meanwhile, fit-again defender Andy Robertson revealed he suffered in silence during his three-month layoff following shoulder surgery.
The left-back, 29, said: “During the hard times I suffered alone or at home.
'I didn't want this to happen to the other boys. I tried not to change, but there were difficult times when I might have been alone on the training pitch and frustrated.”
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