We don't really get to choose, do we?
It's incredible that the club created a situation in which 3 core players have 1 year left on their contracts. Liverpool was doing things the smart way recently, so I have no idea what went wrong.
VVD is nearing an end of his career. He'd be smart to wait before extending - if Slot's Liverpool won't fight for trophies, he might want to go.
Trent is a tricky one - Real has got a super team and he'd fit in well there. I wouldn't want to see him go, but if he doesn't extend we might be forced to sell. Nobody wants a McManaman all over again.
The same mistake was made with Rudiger and Christensen, and while I'm not going to blame the club or the players entirely, both were ready to sign an extension when the whole sanction thing happened; both players were getting close to contract deadlines, clubs couldn't continue to negotiate, and both players had no choice but to leave for elsewhere.
R. James is now out of reach; he is the club's captain, and Real Madrid understands how tough it would be to get a contract following the Kepa situation; they would push hard to get Trent, despite positive negotiations between Trent's agent and Liverpool, but no deal has been reached. Getting near to become the club's second highest earner.
To do that again in the following year would decimate the leadership structure and make it like Chelsea's where their most experienced player is... Reece James who is serving a 3-game ban (wink wink).
Hey we still have chilwell and Sterling in the team.