For nearly a decade, Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne have affirmed their position as two of the best players in Premier League history. However, time waits for no one and now Liverpool and Man City are facing a difficult problem of when to say goodbye to stars who have passed the age of 30?
Salah's current contract with Liverpool will expire in June next year, while De Bruyne also has only a few months left to renew. However, the reactions from the two clubs are somewhat different. Despite publicly expressing their desire to keep Salah, The Kop have yet to make an official offer. Meanwhile, The Citizens have even shown indifference to extending De Bruyne's contract.
However, these two players have had opposite reactions. Salah has repeatedly mentioned his future through various media channels, from live interviews to social media. On the contrary, De Bruyne has been calm, even saying he is not worried and wants to focus on recovering from injuries.
At the age of 32, Salah and De Bruyne are both reaching the peak of their careers. Although they still show impressive performance, declining performance is inevitable. So are clubs willing to continue paying huge salaries to players who are gradually passing their prime?
The history of the Premier League has witnessed many difficult decisions related to older stars. In 2009, Man United was famous for its philosophy of not making ideal commitments to players over the age of 26. Similarly, Arsenal under Arsene Wenger also applied a policy of only extending contracts for 1 year for players over 32.
Mohamed Salah has seen his former teammates Jordan Henderson, Roberto Firmino and Georginio Wijnaldum all plummet after turning 30. Inconsistent form has forced them to leave Liverpool and seek leagues that are much less competitive than the Premier League.
Nowadays, thanks to advances in nutrition, recovery and coaching, many players can extend their peak careers into their mid-or late 30s. Typical examples such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema show that age is no longer a big barrier as before.
However, each player is a separate case. Salah and De Bruyne may still maintain their form for the next few years, but there is no guarantee that they will continue to play at the highest level.
Clubs are not only sports organizations but also businesses. They have to consider between maintaining relationships with iconic players and making wise financial decisions. Salah and De Bruyne are players who bring value not only on and off the pitch. However, keeping them on a high salary could become a burden if their form declines.
The question is not whether Salah and De Bruyne deserve their new contracts, but whether Liverpool and Man City are willing to bet on their inevitable decline. No matter what the final decision is, these will be landmark moments for both clubs and could shape their futures for many years to come.
