Anfield Watch
·25 November 2024
Anfield Watch
·25 November 2024
In January 2022, Salah was first left in the dark about whether his contract would be renewed.
His comments seem like carbon copies of the ones he made last night. “I want to stay, but it’s not in my hands. They know what I want, I’m not asking for crazy stuff. I love the fans and club.”
We have seen it all before. He wants the club to appreciate him but there always seems to be a struggle with negotiations.
Fast forward a year on in the summer of 2023 after he secured a new deal and it looked like the winger could have been on his way out following offers from Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
The reported bids were around £150 million, a huge price which Liverpool quickly rejected. This was only last year. What has changed since then?
A club, board and owners who seem incredibly ‘stingy’ with their money rejecting a bid this high? Clearly they know the importance of Salah to the team and what he can consistently do from season to season.
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Moreover, when Jurgen Klopp departed last season many were concerned that without his presence, big name players like Mo would be on their way out.
This would have been a fantastic opportunity to resolve any issues. Tying him down under the new Arne Slot era would have been a statement of intent and strength of our board, but again this situation passed them by.
Another issue surrounds the Sporting Director role at the club. After Michael Edwards left in the summer of 2022, chaos seemed to ensue.
Julian Ward came in and was at the club for less than a year, leaving in May 2023. Jorg Schmadtke replaced Ward, but again left soon after in February 2024. Richard Hughes took on the role this summer but hasn’t had the impact fans would have hoped for.
The lack of structure with directors may be contributing to contract renewals being inconsistent and lacking. The backroom seems a mess with the team unable to make major decisions.
This current contract situation has been a snowball of events for the past few years which is now slowly becoming too much for Salah himself.