As Mohamed Salah left St Mary’s Stadium with a brace to give Liverpool all three points away from home, a crowd of fans waited at the exit, chanting the Egyptian star’s name as he prepared to board the bus. It was thought Salah would board immediately, but he stopped and turned towards four reporters taking pictures and a crowd of fans standing behind the barrier.
Of course, there are still questions about the future from reporters, but this time, Salah did not keep quiet. He shared that he was preparing to enter December but had not received any extension offers from Liverpool. The 32-year-old striker hinted that he would most likely leave Anfield instead of staying.
"I've been playing for the club for so many years. Nowhere else has given me the same feeling as here. I've always had great affection for the fans and so have they. However, whether I stay or not, they can't decide. Now, I always try my best to give my all for Liverpool" - Salah shared.
Salah's statement made Liverpool worried, especially as they prepare to face Real Madrid in the Champions League this midweek. This could be an act of putting pressure on the Kop leadership from Salah. The Egyptian star wants the Anfield hierarchy to make a clear decision soon.
Despite turning 32, Salah is still playing as well as he did 7 seasons ago. Every week, his name appears regularly on the scoreboard in The Kop's victories. In 18 appearances since the beginning of the season, Salah has 12 goals and 10 assists. On average, Salah participates in 1 goal every 65 minutes. Currently, Liverpool's vice-captain is on a 5-game scoring streak and shows no signs of stopping.
The biggest sticking point in Salah's future lies in the fact that sporting director Richard Hughes and agent Ramy Abbas are not on the same page. Salah has never once confirmed that there is a conflict, to avoid adding fuel to the fire.
Salah is currently Liverpool's highest-paid player, earning £350,000 a week before bonuses. Because the 32-year-old's salary is so high, if he renews, Liverpool will have to pay the same or more than that figure in the next few years. Salah is still very good, but after June 2025 (33 years old), it is unlikely that he will be able to maintain his current form.
The only thing Liverpool can be confident about at the moment in keeping Salah is the striker's desire to conquer European titles. Liverpool are very strong, leading both the Premier League and the Champions League, the Anfield team has enough strength to let Salah's desire take off.
As for Salah, when asked if he would join the Saudi Pro League in the near future, he replied that he had not thought about that prospect. The 32-year-old striker emphasized his professionalism with his career and his desire to play at the top level for as long as possible. Concluding his sharing with reporters, Salah said he hoped to win a title with Liverpool at the end of the season. After that, everything would depend on fate.
