Liverpool fans’ glee at today’s win over Manchester United may well have been tempered by Mo Salah strongly hinting that this could be his final season with the Reds.
The Egyptian stated after the final whistle that “it’s my last year in the club”, adding that the Anfield hierarchy haven’t yet discussed the matter of his contract – which expires next summer – with him and that he will ‘see at the end of the season’ what comes next.
Daniel Sturridge and Roy Keane were on punditry duty for Sky Sports when they heard the 32-year-old’s on-air declaration, and the former was understandaly keen for our number 11 to stay on beyond June 2025.
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The ex-Liverpool striker said: “I would be surprised [if they let him go]. Mo has achieved pretty much everything he could at the club but I’ve not seen him happier.
“The way he was speaking then was as if, ‘I want to be at the club’. If the club are going to give him what he wants then he’ll stay. I really hope he does stay because he’s been magnificent.”
Keane chimed in: “He’s in control of [his contract]. I know clubs have policies about letting players’ contracts run down when they get to 31, 32, but he’ll decide what he wants to do. They’ll obviously have to offer him a contract – he’s their main player. Put it this way: he will have plenty of options.”
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Salah’s candid post-match admission has well and truly catapulted the subject of his Liverpool future into the spotlight, and Reds fans might now be genuinely concerned that he will be off to pastured new at the end of the season.
The 32-year-old made it three goals in as many games to start the campaign with his 15th strike in 16 appearances against United this afternoon, and the manner in which he’s come back from his summer break suggests that he could enjoy another free-scoring year at Anfield.
As Sturridge floated, perhaps the Egyptian’s post-match comments were a veiled warning towards the LFC hierarchy that he wants to stay on Merseyside, but that they need to do more to accelerate the process and get his contract sorted.
Keane is also right in saying that, if this indeed is Salah’s final season at Liverpool, there’ll be no shortage of suitors waiting to pick up one of the world’s elite forwards.
Now that the transfer window has closed, Richard Hughes’ main focus needs to be trained on extending the 32-year-old’s deal, along with those of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk, who are also set to become free agents next June.
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I have no concerns regarding Salah himself and what he said, but what is really concerning is that the club haven’t seemingly started contract extension negotiations! I truly believe Mo would sign a new contract so it begs the question why the hell haven’t liverpool at least started negotiations? That for me is worrying.
Negotiation is a complex entity. The ones making the decisions at the table are emotionless and couldn’t care less if Salah makes five goals every game.
To Mo,
There’s no need to negotiate thru the press.
Every LFC fan knows your contract is winding down.
I strongly believe, it all depends on how keen you wanna stay at LFC.
The Saudis can blow LFC out of the water because there’s no transfer fee involved.
As it stands, the top 3 wages are
1] Salah >>> 350K
2} VVD >>>> 220K
3} Trent >>> > 180K
I think 3 years at $350K is fair for both sides.
Ultimately, it all depends how much you value your legacy at LFC.
IF you want to be regarded in the same stratosphere as Dalglish, Stevie G or Hansen, you need to stay and come up BIG in the finals.
I read a lot of opinion online, i consume video from pundits online and post match analysis and speculation.
None of them have mentioned this point… you have all missed it.
Perhaps the reason why we haven’T sat down to talk to these players yet is the THEY wanted to see what life would be like first under Slot before even thinkning about signing up.
I mean, i would.. wouldn’t you? A new boss comes in after you’ve worked under the old one for 7-8 years.. wouldn’t you want to see how it goes in practice first before committing the important (Trent) or rest of your years to the club?
I think a lot of people are missing the point, in that maybe the players were watining to see how Slot got on in before making a desicion to sign on?
Now that they’ve seen it should go well, then they my be more open to discussing extensions. Just a point that i haven’t seen being made elsewhere.