Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has urged Liverpool to resolve the contract situation of superstar Mohamed Salah.
Speaking on ITV, as relayed by the Mirror, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has told Liverpool that they must tie down superstar forward Mohamed Salah to a new contract at the earliest possible.
Salah has been with Liverpool for almost five years now and has grown into one of the best forwards in the game during the time. His tally of 148 goals and 56 assists in 229 matches speaks for itself. The 29-year-old has been key to the Reds’ recent success under Jurgen Klopp and has been in stunning form this season, plundering 23 goals in just 26 games.
However, Salah’s future at Anfield has become a topic of speculation of late. The Egyptian international’s current deal runs until the summer of 2023, meaning he will be entering the final year of his contract at the end of the season.
Talks over an extension have been held, but an agreement is still far from being reached. Liverpool have a strict policy when it comes to their wage structure and handing long-term contracts to players in their thirties.
With Salah set to celebrate his 30th birthday in a few months and demanding massive wages, negotiations have not progressed as planned. However, Keane has urged Liverpool to resolve the situation or risk losing ‘one of the greatest’ players in the game.
“He’s 29 but the modern player, they’re machines I don’t think it’s no issue. From Liverpool’s point of view it’s business they’ve got to try and negotiate. You’ve got to get him signed on, he’s one of the greatest players in the world, you’ve got to get it done. If it goes into next season you really start to worry but try and get it done and dusted,” he said.
“They might not have a choice, it’s up to the player, the player’s in charge he said he’s happy and he’s obviously going to try and negotiate a bit of steel but he’s going to to get a lot of money anyway. It might be does he want a new experience. But he’s said a number of times he’s happy here he’s loved here but Liverpool have got to try and get him signed you can’t just let players like that go out of the door, particularly on a free.”
Salah has repeatedly urged that he wishes to sign a new deal with Liverpool and that the ball is in the club’s court, with reports claiming that he is asking for a salary of around £400,000 per week. The Reds, however, have not shown any willingness to meet those demands as of yet.
The signing of Luis Diaz in January and the emergence of Diogo Jota has led to rumours that one of Liverpool’s much-vaunted front-three of Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino may end up leaving. Like Salah, the other two are also out of contract in 2023, and the sooner Liverpool get on top of the issue, the better for the club.
