Liverpool are reportedly planning to open talks with star winger Mohamed Salah over his future in the new year and could consider sanctioning a £200 million exit next summer.
According to transfer expert Ben Jacobs (via GIVEMESPORT), Liverpool are yet to start talks with Egyptian star Mohamed Salah about his future plans, with the two parties expected to hold further discussions in the new year amid fresh interest from the Saudi Pro League.
The journalist adds that although the Reds have rejected previous offers for their star man and head coach Jurgen Klopp wants to keep Salah, the club are now running out of leverage in the negotiation due to his diminishing contract and may be forced to cash in sooner rather than later.
Jacobs said to GMS: “In modern football signing a new deal doesn’t necessarily mean anything other than potentially from Liverpool’s point of view, protecting the player’s value and keeping any potential exit on their terms. Or on the flip side, if a contract is running down, allow a player to extend but have their cake and eat it and still have the ability to leave at a reasonable number.
“So as it stands, I’m not aware that Liverpool have started any talks with Salah, despite reports. I’m not aware that Liverpool at this stage in the season have advanced anything. I think that may come in the new year when they have an open and frank conversation with Salah and they work out what he wants to do.
“Because everything in this context is going to be driven by Salah and it’s not going to be acrimonious. Liverpool are going to be respectful of Salah and Salah is going to be respectful of Liverpool.”
The Egyptian star is regarded as one of the best players in world football, one of the best African players of all time, and stands up alongside the Merseysiders’ all-time leading talents.
Having signed in a bargain £36.9 million move from Roma in 2017, Salah has blasted in an astonishing 198 goals during his six full seasons at Anfield. At an average of well over 30 goals a season, Liverpool moved to tie the player to a new three-year deal until the end of the 2024/25 campaign last summer, making him their highest-paid player of all time on a deal worth a massive £350,000 a week.
However, in the grim reality of the money on offer in Saudi Arabia, the money Salah is paid is now considered small fry. To that end, the Egyptian king was the subject of an intense chase for his services from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad last summer.
Embed from Getty Images
And with Al-Ittihad seeing a huge £150 million offer for his services turned down over the summer, the Saudi Arabian side are expected to renew their efforts to persuade Liverpool to part company with the 31-year-old during the course of the next two transfer windows.
A mid-season sale appears unlikely, but the Reds will certainly have a decision to make next summer. Jacobs’ suggests that if Liverpool receive a hefty offer of around £200 million, then it could be difficult to turn down, particularly if Salah isn’t open to extending his stay at Anfield and is seeking a fresh challenge in the Middle East.
