Premier League giants Liverpool are unwilling to part ways with superstar Mohamed Salah amidst interest from Barcelona.
According to Sport, Liverpool do not appear to have any intention of selling superstar attacker Mohamed Salah as uncertainty regarding his future at Anfield continues to mount.
The 29-year-old has blossomed into arguably the best player in the world since moving to Merseyside from AS Roma in 2017. Since then, he has made 239 appearances for the Reds, netting 153 goals and assisting 57 more.
Salah’s contract with the club expires in the summer of 2023, and he is yet to pen a new deal. Both Liverpool and the player have been engaged in negotiations for some time but are yet to reach an agreement. This has given other clubs an opportunity to pounce.
One of them is Barcelona, who appear to have turned a corner under Xavi Hernandez. The Catalans are still some way off from competing but can make a statement of sorts if they are to land Salah. The player, for his part, is ready to listen to offers, but departing Anfield is easier said than done.
Despite risking losing Salah for free in a year, Liverpool will not entertain any offers for the Egyptian this summer and have declared him non-transferable. Given the key role that the 29-year-old plays in Jurgen Klopp’s system, such a stance is expected.
Salah is open to staying at Liverpool, provided he is made one of the world’s highest-paid players. While his stature at Anfield is unquestionable, it remains to be seen if the Reds will break their wage structure even for a player like him. Doing so could open up the Pandora’s box, where other players, too, will be empowered to make lavish demands.
Having spent five solid seasons in England, Salah could be open to a move abroad. He has spoken highly of Barcelona in the past and could be tempted into pursuing a switch should their interest turn serious. The Blaugrana have not contacted Liverpool and are well aware that the Reds are no easy team to negotiate with.
Liverpool have, in the past, played hardball with players who sought to put pressure on them during contract talks and could be set to do more of the same. Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum were allowed to run down their deals rather than have their way in negotiations, and neither player has been missed at Anfield since.
As things stand, Liverpool are among the elite teams in world football and on a higher pedestal than Barcelona. Leaving Anfield could prove to be a backward step for Salah.
