When Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah spoke after the Reds 3-0 win over Manchester United last weekend, the Egyptian outlined that it would be his final season on Merseyside .
The 32-year-old is out of contract next summer, with Salah himself admitting live on Sky Sports there had been no contract talks yet between himself and the Reds. "Honestly, I had a good summer," Salah, who scored and picked up two assists against United said in his post match interview.
"I had a long time to stay with myself, try to think positive because as you know it's my last year at the club. I just want to enjoy it, I don't want to think about it but I feel free to play football, we will see next year."
He then added: "The club has not talked to me yet so I will play my last season and see at the end of the season."
With Salah set to be 33 come the start of next season, and with Michael Edwards now back amongst the fold at Anfield, it is entirely plausible the Egyptian won't be handed a new deal to extend his stay with the Reds, which began all the way back in 2017.
However, with Salah having started the new Premier League season in red hot form, he might have just forced Liverpool's into negotiating an extension. He is reportedly desperate to remain on Merseyside and is said to see his future with Liverpool.
Just last summer, the Reds rejected a monstrous $197m (£150m) bid from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad, with Liverpool citing it rejected the offer due to it being too late in the transfer window for it to bring in an adequate replacement for Salah, who scored 18 goals in the Premier League last term.
Salah and his family are settled on Merseyside, with the Liverpool ECHO reporting the Reds star sees his daughter as "being from Liverpool." And it has now emerged the Reds are said to be interested in holding contract talks with Salah. talkSPORT report Liverpool will open contract talks with Salah in the near future.
The 32-year-old has scored in all three of Liverpool's Premier League games this season, and looks to be back to his best this term after a dip in form following his return from the African Cup of Nations earlier this year. Given the outlay it would like cost Liverpool to replace Salah, it would seem foolish for the Reds to let him leave on a free if he continues his strong performances this term.
However, after opting not to try and sign him during the recent transfer window due to being able to land him on a free next summer, Salah will almost certainly be subjected to interest from the Saudi Pro League come January when he can negotiate with other clubs if his future is not wrapped up by then.
Caughtoffside claim Salah will be offered a similar contract to Neymar's $300m deal he signed last summer to join Al-Hilal. They also report Virgil van Dijk, who like Salah, is out of contract next summer, and Alisson will also be offered bumper deals to move to the Saudi Pro League.
Despite their ages, Salah, 32, Van Dijk, 33 and Alisson, 31, all still look at the top of their game and it is hard to envisage their performances this season would drop so far off a cliff that Liverpool would not want to keep them around for the 2025/26 campaign. All three are Liverpool's legends and while the Reds have a succession plan in place for Alisson in the form of Giorgi Mamardashvili, they do not when it comes to Salah and Van Dijk.
Added to the contract stress surrounding Salah and Van Dijk is also the fact Trent Alexander-Arnold is out of contract too next summer. The right-back has been subject to interest from Real Madrid,
Liverpool.com says: It seems unthinkable Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold could play their football away from Anfield next season, but the reality is Liverpool let this happen.
While you can have some sympathy for Michael Edwards and co when it comes to Salah and Van Dijk given their age and the level they are still able to play at, it is inexplicable they have let Alexander-Arnold's contract situation get to this point. If they can't negotiate new deals with all three, it could prove to be an expensive summer next year for FSG.
Local News
Comments / 0