Mohamed Salah’s tenure at Anfield is approaching a critical juncture. With just a year remaining on his hefty £350,000-a-week contract, Liverpool face the daunting task of either renegotiating his deal or offloading him to the Saudi Pro-League.
The possibility of Salah departing this summer looms large over Liverpool’s decision-making process. Alongside efforts to court Xabi Alonso as a replacement for Jurgen Klopp, the club’s new CEO of Football, Michael Edwards, shoulders the responsibility of determining Salah’s future.
As Salah approaches the age of 32 in the upcoming summer, the urgency to address his contract situation intensifies. Liverpool find themselves at a crossroads, compelled to either secure his commitment to new terms or opt for a strategic sale before his contract expires in 2025.
Liverpool face a challenging negotiation scenario. Despite successfully rejecting a £200 million bid from Al-Ittihad for Salah’s move to the Saudi Pro-League last year, their stance may not hold as firm this summer.
The Saudi Pro-League, supported by the Saudi state’s substantial financial backing, aims to enhance its reputation through substantial investments in sports. Salah stands to earn a reported tax-free £1.25 million per week with Al-Ittihad, a sum beyond Liverpool’s capacity to match.
Salah holds significant appeal to the Saudis, who view him as a pivotal figure, given his Arab background hailing from Egypt, just across the Red Sea. His presence could serve as an ideal catalyst for promoting the league on a global scale, making his eventual transition to the Pro-League seem inevitable and natural.
Despite this, Salah remains at the zenith of his career and may not need to make the move for several more years. He derives immense satisfaction from the acclaim and prestige of excelling in the Premier League and the Champions League, widely regarded as the top two club competitions worldwide.
That factor could be advantageous for Liverpool as they endeavour to secure him to a fresh contract. Nonetheless, Liverpool’s essential consideration is that they can endure without Salah.
Although he is on the verge of becoming the first player in their illustrious history to achieve 20-plus goals in seven consecutive seasons, Liverpool have demonstrated their ability to flourish in his absence.
Salah hasn’t been in the starting lineup for Liverpool since New Year’s Day, yet they have triumphed in 12 out of 15 matches, with two draws and just one loss. They clinched the Carabao Cup for the 10th time, setting a record without his presence, and overcame the mental barrier of winning trophies without him.
Liverpool have deliberated over potential replacements and hold high regard for West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen, although his new contract might have made him unattainable.
They are also interested in Wolves’ Pedro Neto, a talented 24-year-old Portuguese attacker with a contract until 2027. Liverpool have alternatives if Salah departs, and their track record demonstrates their ability to remain successful despite the departure of key forwards.
They replaced Kevin Keegan with Kenny Dalglish in 1977, won the Champions League in 2005 following Michael Owen’s departure, and exchanged Luis Suarez for Fernando Torres in 2011. No individual surpasses the significance of Liverpool, not even Salah.
In other Liverpool news, What Prompted Michael Edwards to Return to Liverpool and Why He Wants Richard Hughes as His Sporting Director