John Aldridge has told the Sunday World that Liverpool will have to ponder selling Mohamed Salah this summer if he rejects a new contract.
“Salah has two years left on his contract and if he doesn’t show a willingness to extend that, Liverpool will have to consider selling him this summer,” he told the Sunday World.
“Even though he hasn’t been at his best this season, Salah is still on course to finish the season as the Premier League’s top scorer and it is a reminder that he is a class act.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 17: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on October 17, 2020 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
“Liverpool have to decide whether they want to keep him for the next few years or cash in on him now.
“There have been rumours that he is interested in a move to Real Madrid and PSG, but Salah and Liverpool will have that conversation in the next few weeks and there is no guarantee he will stay.”
Kevin Palmer reports for the Sunday World that there key figures at Anfield believe Salah may be reluctant to renew his contract.
The Egyptian has been sensational for Liverpool since joining the club for £34.3million in 2017 and he has since gone on to score 125 goals and assist 47 for teammates.
Mohamed Salah poses with the silverware he has won with Liverpool at Anfield, Liverpolol, United Kingdom. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC)
While, Liverpool, as a business, could earn as much as £90million from his sale if Transfermarkt’s valuation is accurate, I believe the Reds should keep him even if it means letting him go for free when he’s 31.
Unless selling him means Jurgen Klopp is blessed with a wonderkid like Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland, the Reds would be unable to replace his finishing and winning mentality.
I admit that extending a 29-year-old’s contract is a tricky proposition but there aren’t many like Salah and football has changed.
UNSPECIFIED, AUSTRIA – JULY 19:(THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Mohamed Salah of Liverpool during a training session on July 19, 2021 in UNSPECIFIED, Austria. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
With football science becoming an art form, players no longer become washed the moment they turn 30 and, with Salah the picture of physical health, there is every chance he can score 20+ goals for another 3-4 years.
We’ll see what happens but as I said, unless the Reds can replace him with someone that can match his goalscoring exploits, they might as well accept the loss on his transfer fee.
