Liverpool and Egyptian international Mohamed Salah are in ongoing talks to renew his contract. The Saudis are preparing a huge offer for the 32-year-old winger, who is also the team’s top salary earner, with the aim of timing his free agency.
With no progress so far and his career uncertain beyond next year, Paul Joyce of The Times wrote an interesting article: in the summer of 2022, when he had signed a contract until June 2025, former manager Jurgen Klopp was told that Brazilian winger Antony, then at Ajax, wasIt seems that he was the subject of controversy.
“There were times during that previous round of negotiations with Salah and [his agent Ramy] Abbas two summers ago when a resolution also seemed unlikely.”
“It is understood that it was Mike Gordon, Fenway Sports Group’s president and responsible for the day-to-day running of the club back then, who ultimately decided renewing was the sensible use of resources.”
“That has proved astute, especially as one of the options understood to have been discussed by Jürgen Klopp was to replace Salah was Antony.”
Egyptian King, who still leads Liverpool’s attack as an ace, has played well this season and has already put in 10 goals and 10 assists. In contrast, the Brazilian winger, who joined Manchester United in August 2022, has not settled into the Premier League.
He has not shown the performances of his time in Holland under his mentor from his Ajax days, Erik ten Hag. His goal tally has also shown a lack of substance, giving the impression that he lacks all the ability to be a regular at a prestigious club.
It is possible that manager Ruben Amorim could awaken his potential, but compared to his current reputation and considering the transfer fee paid by Manchester United, Liverpool can only be assessed as having made a wise decision to extend Mohamed Salah’s contract.
However, a successor will have to be found in due course. Who will Liverpool appoint as Salah’s replacement on the day he leaves Anfield?