Mohamed Salah has increased the pressure on Liverpool in their negotiations for a new contract by taking an unusual step in the media.
He had just led Liverpool to their next important victory, but Mohamed Salah didn’t want to end his working day just yet. After the 3-2 win at Southampton on Sunday, he approached a few media representatives in the tunnel, which was remarkable enough for the taciturn Egyptian. Even more remarkable was what he dictated into their recording devices.
“It’s almost December and I haven’t received any offers to stay at the club. I’m probably more likely to leave than stay,” Salah said, as reported on Monday morning. The out-of-contract striker could hardly have increased the pressure on the club bosses much more clearly and publicly.
When asked if he was disappointed, he replied, “Yes, of course.” He’s been with the Reds for so many years – since 2017 – “there’s no other club like this”. He loves the fans and they love him, “but in the end it’s out of my hands”.
The fans recently held up a banner with a clear message
Like captain Virgil van Dijk and key player Trent Alexander-Arnold, the club’s leadership took the risk of Salah starting the season with an unclear future. According to English media reports, talks with his agent are now underway, but impatience is growing – among the player himself and also among the fans, who recently demanded a contract extension via a banner with reference to his celebratory gesture (“He fires a bow. Now give Mo his dough”).
In terms of sport, Salah is currently delivering arguments on a weekly basis. He scored his ninth and tenth goals of the season against Southampton, and has been directly involved in 16 of Liverpool’s 24 Premier League goals. However, the club bosses, who are conservative in their financial dealings, will weigh up the financial side carefully. Salah, currently the club’s top earner, would be 33 years old at the start of the new season.