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Mo Salah contract: everything you need to know

The Mo Salah contract situation has dominated headlines this season as Liverpool continue to grapple with the prospect of losing one of their greatest forwards at the end of the season for nothing. The Egyptian talisman has continued to produce on the pitch this season but off it, there is a real fear that this could be his last year in the famous red shirt of the Merseyside giants.

Jurgen Klopp famously wanted to sign Julian Brandt in the summer of 2017 but was convinced by then Liverpool sporting director to pursue the signature of Salah who was at Roma.

The Egyptian had a less-than-stellar spell in England previously at Chelsea where he hardly got a game and Jose Mourinho has been denying since time immemorial that it was not his decision to sell Salah. The winger was rebuilding his career in Italy, initially at Fiorentina, and then at Roma when Liverpool came calling.

Very few Liverpool fans would have imagined the kind of impact Salah would go on to have on the fortunes of the Reds when he walked through the gates of Anfield in July of 2017. As things stand, Salah is fifth in the all-time top goalscorers list of the club and most importantly he scripted seasons that ended with Liverpool winning the Premier League and the Champions League.

However, this could all come to an end in the summer when Salah’s current deal expires; there is no news of any progress being made in talks between the two sides over a new deal.

The Mo Salah contract situation: The player demands respect

Salah has scored a staggering 220 times and has another 98 assists to his name. He is going to be considered a Liverpool legend long after he hangs up his boots and probably one of the greatest players to wear the famous red jersey. In fact, some are baffled that the club have even allowed the contract situation to reach this stage where the player is now just a couple of months away from being free to discuss a transfer with clubs outside England.

It has emerged in recent days that Liverpool’s initial offer of a new deal angered Salah and his representatives so much that they started to explore their options. He is a modern great at Anfield and the player wants the club to give him that level of respect. The forward’s preference is to stay at Liverpool as he very much feels that he can be at the top of his game for a few years to come but he wants the new contract to acknowledge his status at the club.

There has been talk of Saudi Pro League clubs chasing him for two years now but the player is said to have kept that door firmly shut. Even if he leaves Liverpool he would consider a move to a top European league, which would be the worst outcome for Liverpool outside of him joining a Premier League rival.

Salah’s cryptic post after the Brighton game did send shockwaves across the fanbase but the player very much wants to stay. However, the onus has shifted on Liverpool to make an offer to the player that makes him feel wanted and respected at Anfield by the hierarchy.

A three-year deal or pack his bags?

Salah turned 32 this summer but clearly, age has not done a thing to slow him down. He has nine goals and as many assists across all competitions this season and is still the most potent and consistent attacking threat in the Liverpool team. However, Liverpool remain wary of getting trapped into an expensive long contract with an ageing player. There are suggestions that the Reds are prepared to offer him a new two-year deal but Salah has been demanding a three-year contract. The attacker believes that he is doing enough at the moment to show that he won’t be slowing down or get into a sudden decline any time soon.

However, Liverpool have their own interests to protect and are keen to ensure they do not hand out expensive long contracts to players on the wrong side of the 30s. It makes sense from their perspective but for the fans, Salah is an exceptional player for him there should be an exception to the rule.

Liverpool reporter David Lynch recently came out and stressed that the length of the contract will not make or break the negotiations and he expects the two camps to work out a compromise soon as there is a willingness on both sides to reach an agreement.

No matter how anyone wants to paint the situation, the negotiations have clearly dragged and Liverpool have put themselves in a weird position. The fans want them to ensure that they hold on to one of the greatest players to represent the club but Liverpool do not want to give a contract to Salah which could bring financial pain in the future.

Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes are walking a tightrope and we have not even mentioned Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.