This isn’t the first time concerns have been raised about the future of Mohamed Salah, nor will it be the last, as the most prolific forward in recent Liverpool history heads into the final year of his contract. The club has until 30th June 2023 to agree new terms with the player, at which point he will be a free agent. But of course, amidst protracted ongoing negotiations, the aim for all concerned will be to have agreed his contract extension long before then.
Let’s face it, attacking players boasting the quality and consistency of Salah don’t grow on trees. Only a handful of leading footballers throughout Europe can boast the kind of numbers he currently produces, and has continually produced throughout the five years this Egyptian dynamo has worn the famous red shirt.
Only once during the last five seasons has the Premier League scoring tally of Salah fallen below 20 goals, during the 2019-20 campaign when he still found the back of the net 19 times. That was also the same campaign when Salah registered his lowest number in all competitions, bagging 23 in 48 appearances.
Second of the season… pic.twitter.com/pj6OXHSGZf
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) May 15, 2022
Within the same timeframe that Salah has been strutting his stuff at Anfield, he has been the top scorer in the Premier League in two of four seasons, while finishing just one goal behind Harry Kane last season at the top of the pile. Indeed, the only player who matched the consistency of Salah was Sergio Aguero at Manchester City, who they will finally replace with Erling Haaland next season.
Given how costly the deal to sign Haaland will be for Man City, which includes an escape clause that hardly speaks of any loyalty from the Norwegian, it only serves to underline why locking down a long-term deal for Salah is imperative for Liverpool. After all, getting a replacement capable of producing similar numbers would be hugely expensive, not to mention finding someone who could immediately dovetail with the technical and tactical style of the team.
Salah remains hugely popular amongst the Liverpool fanbase, while his consistent scoring feats make him a firm favourite amongst football punters, always looking carefully at his odds ahead of games and throughout each season. Some even look to take advantage of the best free bets and offers, seeking an edge that Asiabet covers in their latest online betting guide. They also explain the different kinds of promotions available, accompanied by detailed reviews for the most trusted bookies.
Due to having just one year left on his contract, while considering the quality that Salah can continue to bring this Liverpool team, there is genuinely no good reason why the club should gamble on potentially losing him. Sure, the current stance of the Salah’s representatives is quite firm with their demands, seeking to make their client the highest paid player at Anfield. Yet finding a replacement would probably cost Liverpool inordinately more.
Mohamed Salah thinks he's the best in the world pic.twitter.com/7F8RC2gOrn
— GOAL (@goal) May 11, 2022
According to Transfermarkt, the current market value of Salah is €100 million, so what’s the bigger gamble for Liverpool? Considering how crazy the transfer market is these days, even for anyone half-decent and nowhere near the same level as 29-year-old Salah, what price would anyone genuinely equivalent cost the club? Add agents commission, signing on fees, plus the inevitably sizeable wages, there would be no sensible saving from an economic point of view.
This coming June will be when Salah celebrates his 30th birthday, an age at which he can continue to thrive at the very peak of his game. He clearly wants to stay at the club and has even indicated, numerous times, that money isn’t the be all and end all of negotiations. Yet money does talk in modern football and like any top professional, he undoubtedly wants a salary which reflects his current level of importance, both to the club he represents and in the sport itself.
The sooner the whole situation is resolved, the better. Financial stability does matter and in many respects, the club is quite correct to play hardball when it comes to balancing the books. However, given what Liverpool has managed to achieve in recent years, and can continue to achieve by retaining their very best players, there must be willingness towards flexibility in exceptional circumstances. And there’s no doubting that Salah is an exceptional player the Reds can’t afford to lose.
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