Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah is reportedly in discussions with Barcelona over a possible move in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by Spanish publication AS, Mohamed Salah is Barcelona’s preferred alternate option if they cannot sign Erling Haaland in the summer transfer window. The Catalan giants have already initiated discussions with the Liverpool talisman’s entourage, who have given positive signs in contacts thus far.
Mohamed Salah has transformed into a colossus of a forward since joining Liverpool from AS Roma in July 2017. The Egyptian international had an immediate impact at Anfield, and he has been scoring goals for fun throughout his stint with the Reds, even winning the Premier League Golden Boot twice.
The 2021/22 season has been Salah’s best to date at Liverpool, with the 29-year-old amassing a stunning tally of 28 goals and ten assists in 35 appearances across all competitions. The Liverpool talisman sits on top of the goalscoring and assists charts in the Premier League and looks set to win both the individual honours this term.
But the Reds are in a spot of bother over Salah’s long-term future, as he has no interest in signing the latest terms offered by them and is demanding parity with the highest paid players in the Premier League. With his current Liverpool contract running out in a little over a year, prospective suitors, including Barcelona, are starting to line up for his signature.
Barcelona’s preferred target for the summer transfer window is Erling Haaland, who could be Luis Suarez’s long-sought successor. But the Borussia Dortmund striker is the most highly sought-after player in the market, and Barcelona might not be able to compete with the financial might of Manchester City and Real Madrid.
Salah has thus emerged as a viable alternative for the Blaugrana. The Liverpool talisman will not be as expensive as Haaland either, with the Merseyside giants likely to demand between €60 million and €70 million to part with him if forced to offload him in the summer transfer window.
The initial contacts between Salah and Barcelona have been positive. But the Catalan giants have asked for some time before they zero in on the Egyptian wing-wizard as their preferred target in attack. While Salah is not a like-for-like alternative for Haaland, he is one of very few options in the market who can guarantee at least 30 goals per season.
Liverpool are laying down a contingency plan if they cannot tie Salah down to a new contract. Interestingly, Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele is one of the options on Liverpool’s radar. But Liverpool would naturally prefer to secure Salah’s long-term future, although it is unclear if they will meet his demands.
