According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Liverpool “fully expect” star forward Mohamed Salah to stay with the club until the summer transfer window in 2024.
According to Ornstein, the 31-year-old “has given no indication of wanting to exit.”Salah’s contract expires in 2024-25, so unless an extension is agreed upon, this would be Liverpool’s last chance to reclaim a substantial amount for one of their best ever goalscorers.Salah was a highly sought-after target for Al Ittihad during the Saudi Pro League clubs’ spending spree last summer. The club reportedly offered up to £150 million, but Liverpool refused.This time around, the conditions will be slightly different, making a move far more likely, despite Ornstein’s assessment.
Salah’s contract is one factor. Liverpool has been content to let a lot of players depart on free transfers, but in those circumstances, they were not willing to forego the expected money they would receive by selling the decorated Egyptian now. Even if he goes for £50 million — a realistic estimate — that’s a lot of money that can go toward his replacement.The Reds are also bringing in a new manager, Arne Slot, which gives a perfect opportunity to make a significant change such as trading a core player like Salah. While Slot will be expected to Һit the ground running, there will not be the same sense of all-or-nothing urgency that existed prior to what proved to be Jürgen Klopp’s final campaign.Then there are the recent developments: Salah’s drop in form and his touchline exchange with Klopp during the club’s 2-2 tie with West Ham.Salah’s goal total (17) is on track to be his lowest in the Premier League, with two goals and zero assists in his last eight outings. He may have been frustrated to start from the bench against West Ham, but the decision was justified given his recent performances.And it became impossible to dismiss his interaction with Klopp after he cryptically stated in the mixed zone after the match, “There is going to be fire today if I speak.”Liverpool faces some rιsk in reintroducing Salah since his sluggish second half could indicate a more general deterioration — consider how quickly Sadio Mané fell off after signing with Bayern Munich in 2022. Managing a fading star can be difficult, particularly for a first-year coach.Michael Edwards, chief executive of football, and Richard Hughes, incoming sporting director, appear content to maintain the existing quo. We’ll see if that position remаins the same once the transfer window opens.
