Anfield Watch
·25 November 2024
Anfield Watch
·25 November 2024
His reply was not what fans were hoping for. “I haven’t received any offer to stay at the club, so probably I’m more out than in”.
“It’s not in my hands or the fans' hands, so let's wait and see”.
This was the last thing supporters wanted to wake up to after the positivity of last night. Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes will be in the firing line following this announcement with the pressure being increased even further on them to sort a new deal for the Egyptian King following his magnificent start to the season.
But, is there a reason as to why this new contract hasn’t been agreed yet?
Firstly, Salah is at an age where his longevity as a world-class player becomes uncertain. He is 32 years old, meaning his prime years left are probably limited. Of course, he always loves to play against the odds, but Liverpool may be thinking of a longer-term future and bringing in younger talent to take over the reins.
The article from The Athletic states, “Liverpool want to keep Salah but it has to be within a framework that they believe makes sense financially as they seek to use their resources wisely.”
To back this idea up, Salah’s wages are extremely high. Currently on £350,000 per week, the board may feel unsure to offer him more as he is not getting any younger and this money could be spent elsewhere. Liverpool seem reluctant to give big offers to players in the late stages of their career.
This money in question could be used to extend the contracts of other key players such as Virgil van Dijk and Trent-Alexander Arnold.
Are these two more vital to the squad than Salah? Are the board potentially sacrificing one player to secure the futures of two?
All three offer something incredibly special, but Virgil’s solidity and Trent’s present and future potential may outweigh Mo’s wishes.
Furthermore, although Salah has come out all guns blazing so far this season, a drop-off is possible. Throughout the past couple of seasons, Salah has been known to slightly dip in form towards the end of the season.
Are Hughes and Edwards wary of offering a new deal to a declining player age-wise? Do they want to spend this money rewarding other players' contracts or buy new troops?
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