Liverpool's best summer signings have been overlooked — and came way before Florian Wirtz

Liverpool could yet sign Alexander Isak this summer in a blockbuster, British record transfer move, and it has already brought in Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez and several more.

And yet, the most important signings that Arne Slot made in an exciting summer have somewhat been overlooked. No one at Liverpool will have forgotten them, but the most vital players under contract this season were weeks away from leaving.

The dominant story throughout the campaign in which Liverpool won the Premier League title only came to a conclusion a few weeks before the season ended. Mohamed Salah went first, and then Virgil van Dijk a few days later. Ten days after that, Liverpool beat Spurs at Anfield to be crowned Premier League champions.

Given how close to the wire it came before Salah and Van Dijk penned new terms, it does feel slightly forgotten at this stage just how big a piece of the puzzle that was.

Just imagine for a second that either one — or even both — had left. How would Liverpool have replaced the best defender in the world, or comfortably its most potent attacking threat?

Had Liverpool been unable to come to an agreement with either player, it would have had a plan. But in tying down two world-class stars still at the peak of their powers, it set up the summer of deals that was to come.

Already, there have been signs that Salah and Wirtz can link up nicely. Van Dijk, meanwhile, will be crucial in pinning together a newly created defense. In tandem, they will form the forefront of the Liverpool leadership group, alongside Andy Robertson.

And for all that Liverpool appears to have taken an exciting step forward by spending so much in the transfer market this summer, that was all made possible by the platform of the work that came before that.

In convincing Salah and Van Dijk that they must stay — and they would have known what was around the corner in the summer window — Liverpool laid the foundations for what came next.

Had Liverpool lost Salah, it wouldn't have been seeking to improve its roster, but somehow restore parity. Letting Van Dijk slip away, given how few world-class defenders there are out there, would arguably have been even tougher.

"Both of us, every day!" Salah told All Red Video when he was asked if he and Van Dijk ever spoke about their contract situations while the situation was unfolding last season.

"We’ve been together for eight years. We appreciate that so much. We know how much we work, and we try to push each other and the younger players."

In the end, it worked out for all parties, with both players always favoring the option of staying. Liverpool will be thankful, because the summer would have looked completely different had they not.

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