Mohamed Salah is reportedly "relaxed" and in no rush to commit his future to Liverpool amid contract uncertainty.
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Salah's current deal ends next yearThere are still no renewal talks with the EgyptianSaudi Arabia continues to wait in the wings for SalahWHAT HAPPENED?
According to Salah's latest contract, signed in 2022, established him as the highest-paid player in Liverpool’s history as he secured a three-year deal that guarantees him a basic weekly wage of £350,000, with the potential to earn even more through performance-related bonuses. Factoring in his numerous endorsement deals, Salah’s weekly income reportedly approaches £1 million ($1.31m).
At the time of his contract renewal, Salah was already attracting interest from Saudi Arabian clubs, particularly as the nation began investing heavily in football through its Public Investment Fund (PIF). One such club, Al Ittihad, made headlines last summer by making attempts to secure Salah with a bid that rose to £150m ($196m).
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Salah's current deal at Anfield ends in 2025 and according to the report, while Liverpool’s new sporting director Richard Hughes has met with Salah's agent, Rammy Abbas, to establish contact, there have been no formal discussions about extending the player's contract. Currently, he is now more determined than ever to achieve success as he understands that a strong season could further elevate his value and increase the demand for his services. Moreover, as much as Liverpool are evaluating Salah's role under new manager Arne Slot, the forward is also keen to see how the club fares in the post-Jurgen Klopp era.
DID YOU KNOW?
If the decision comes down to financial considerations, Liverpool may struggle to compete with the deep pockets of Saudi Arabian clubs. It is widely expected that one of the PIF-backed teams will make another attempt to lure Salah to the Saudi Pro League as Al Ittihad, in particular, have maintained their interest in the player.
WHAT ARE LIVERPOOL'S CONSIDERATIONS?
From Liverpool's perspective, several factors will influence whether Salah is offered a new contract. His age, for one, will be a key consideration. Liverpool's owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), prioritise financial sustainability and have traditionally been reluctant to offer long-term contracts to players in their thirties. There is also the issue of setting a precedent. Offering Salah a lucrative contract at this stage in his career could have financial implications. The flexibility shown by both Liverpool and Abbas in 2022, which was crucial in reaching an agreement, may be harder to replicate given the current interest from Saudi clubs.