Mohamed Salah has suggested that this could be his final season at Liverpool, casting uncertainty over his future with the club.
Salah secured a new three-year deal in 2022, making him Liverpool’s highest-paid player at £350,000 per week; however, there hasn’t been any progress on extending the deal further despite it running out by the end of the current season.
The 32-year-old will now be able to sign a pre-contract with a new club come January, as the Saudi interest grows, with Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold in the same situation.
After Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford, where Salah scored and provided two assists, he opened up about his contract situation, stating, “I had a good summer and had a long time to myself to try to stay positive. As you know, it’s my last year at the club.
“I just want to enjoy it and I don’t want to think about it. I feel like I’m free to play football and then we’ll see what happens next year.”
“Coming into the game, I said it could be the last time [I play here with Liverpool].
“No one at the club has spoken to me about contracts, so I’m just like, ‘OK, I’m playing my last season’ and see what happens at the end of the season. It’s not up to me, but nobody’s talked to me from the club. We will see.
The Impact of Losing Salah
If Salah departs next summer, Liverpool will face the daunting task of replacing one of their most influential players. Despite turning down a £100 million offer from Al Ittihad in 2023, Liverpool has yet to engage in contract talks with Salah. This lack of communication has led to increased speculation about his departure.
Jamie Carragher, Liverpool legend, weighed in on the situation: “I think Mo Salah is obsessed, like Ronaldo, with records and longevity. Most of us think, when you get to 35, you’re done in football. The way that lad looks after himself, I think he’s thinking of playing until he’s 40, or late 30s at least.
“I don’t think a Saudi situation is on the cards next season. He’s too good. He’s playing in the best league in the world, for one of the biggest clubs in the world. Whether it’s in another season or two seasons’ time, he’s alongside Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard as the top players to play for Liverpool. He’s possibly the best wide player we’ve seen in the Premier League, even if hasn’t got the medals that maybe some others have got.
“Of course, you fight to keep him. It’s not about throwing money at him. It’s not what you’ve done in the past, it’s what you’re doing in the future. When you get into your mid-30s, you can’t do what you did before – but he might be different. Of course, Liverpool want to keep him and Virgil van Dijk, but it will probably be about wages. Are they still on the same wages because, in the next two or three years, will they still be the same players? That’s the debate that will be had.
“I would be very surprised if Salah isn’t playing for Liverpool next season because I think he’ll want to blitz every record in the club’s history.”
Pressure Mounts on Liverpool
Sky Sports journalist, Melissa Reddy, highlighted the pressure on Liverpool’s management, noting the significance of their silence. “Mohamed Salah underscored his influence on Liverpool at Old Trafford and then intensified the pressure on the club to offer him a new contract after admitting no talks have taken place yet.
“The 32-year-old is in the final year of his deal and has maintained he is not wasting mental energy focusing on the situation, however, Sky Sports News understands his preference would be to remain with the Anfield side. Salah has not considered any other club yet, but feels he still has years left at the highest level. He wants to be competing for the biggest prizes and so interest from Saudi Arabia would not be enticing at present.
“Salah’s position has been that Liverpool need to start a dialogue over fresh terms as it is not his job to push for it. The fact that there has not even been a discussion yet, with no proposal drafted for him to consider, is a significant detail. The club’s silence thus far seems to suggest they are comfortable letting him leave on a free after seven seasons of him making extraordinary the norm.
“Replacing Salah, especially in today’s market, would be incredibly difficult. That is without adding the complication that Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are also in the final year of their deals. Liverpool have enormous work to do.”
What’s Next for Liverpool?
As Salah nears the end of his contract, Liverpool faces a critical period. The club’s decisions in the coming months will be crucial in determining whether they can retain their star forward or must prepare for a significant transition. Salah’s contributions to Liverpool have been extraordinary, and his potential departure would leave a substantial gap in both performance and leadership on the field.
1 Comment