Mohamed Salah scored and assisted on Sunday as Liverpool took a giant leap towards the Premier League title with a 2-0 win over Manchester City. The 32-year-old forward is still the most threatening forward in the squad and has continued to produce the goods despite approaching his 33rd birthday next June. Offering him a new contract should be a no-brainer but as things stand, he will be free to leave Anfield on a free transfer next summer.
It is clear from Salah’s post-Southampton outburst that he loves Liverpool and wants to stay at the club. However, as he stated, the club are yet to offer him a new contract, which has annoyed the player and his camp.
The Merseyside giants are insistent that they can only make a formal offer once negotiations take them closer to an agreement over a new deal with his representatives.
Liverpool insist that they want to keep Salah but the forward is growing suspicious of the club’s intentions. He is ready to sign a one-year deal to extend his stay but is unsure whether the Reds will be ever ready to meet his expectations.
Salah’s expectations are clear – he wants the club to offer him a contract that reflects he is one of the best players in the world and honours his contributions to the club.
He is currently on a contract worth £350,000 a week but the forward earns much more once the bonuses kick in given he is one of the best players in the team.
Liverpool want the new deal to make financial sense due to his age. But are the club being judicious in crunching the numbers so narrowly given Salah’s impact on the team?
Salah is a freak when it comes to his fitness
Liverpool are afraid that if they adhere to Salah’s demands, they could get trapped in an expensive contract with a player who could soon go on the decline.
Under normal circumstances, Liverpool’s fears would be justified but Salah has been nothing less than a freak.
In his 33rd year, the forward is not showing any signs of wear and tear or slowing down and is still the most potent threat in the Liverpool attacking armoury.
Salah is on course to break the 20-goal mark for the eighth successive season at Anfield and has been looking sharper and fitter than ever.
When he returned for pre-season last season, he topped the charts in the fitness tests, outperforming players 15 years younger than him in the Liverpool squad.
The forward’s lifestyle also includes healthy eating, yoga and ensuring that his mind is as fit and sound as his body through mental exercises.
Liverpool should not worry about the 32-year-old suddenly losing his sharpness or fitness in the coming years. Not giving him a contract due to fears of him going on a decline soon would be a massive error from the club hierarchy.
And how much would it cost to replace Salah’s impact on the team? It makes more financial sense to keep Liverpool’s best player happy.
