Elite clubs appear more keen on holding a regulated wage structure now more than ever as opposed to handing out mega contracts, weighing up the worth in bringing in possible replacements. That obviously presents some risk with Liverpool potentially facing the near impossible task of replacing Salah, Mane and Firmino.
Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota have already come in and made an instant impact, but they’re impressive displays have undoubtedly been helped by having Liverpool’s usual front three alongside them. Both City and Chelsea will also be wary of having their main core torn apart with players out of contract next year potentially leaving for nothing.
Resolving the contract issues is clearly no easy task with each player different in what they want and representatives having more of a say in negotiations than ever. But the success of Liverpool and City in particular in recent years has been largely down to their ability to stick with the same core group for several seasons and adding to that.
Finding replacements is risky business and could well see them drop off the top of the table in the very near future. It leaves all three clubs with big decisions to make heading into the summer transfer window which could in turn impact the Premier League as a whole.