‘Robot’ Richard Hughes blasted for Mo Salah saga as Liverpool risk painful exit

Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has been blamed for the club failing to tie Mo Salah down to a new contract.

Salah made headlines over the weekend when he admitted he is ‘more out than in’ at Liverpool. The forward said he has yet to receive a firm contract offer from Liverpool, despite the fact his current deal is due to expire at the end of the season.

Liverpool reporters including James Pearce have explained how Salah wanted to make a big statement when speaking to the press. It was one of a handful of occasions where he has stopped to speak in the mixed zone during his time at Liverpool.

Agent Rob Jansen does not represent Salah but he does work for Arne Slot’s assistant, Johnny Heitinga, who became part of Liverpool’s coaching staff in July.

Jansen has now criticised Hughes and suggested he is the main reason why Salah could leave Liverpool in what would be a heartbreaking transfer for the club’s fans.

“One thing Richard Hughes doesn’t have is any sense of empathy. Zero. He’s a robot. I know that because I negotiated with him, for Heitinga,” Jansen said in a recent podcast appearance (via Dutch source Soccer News).

“There’s zero feelings in him. That may well be the reason. Especially with a player like Salah, who has emotion, has a different culture and is sensitive to warmth.”

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Hughes faces massive Mo Salah decision

Jansen’s comments will concern Liverpool supporters as it seems Hughes has no problems with ending Salah’s record-breaking spell on Merseyside.

Of course, Hughes needs to think about the financial stability of the club, and he cannot hand Salah a massive contract based on the past, but at this stage it looks like a terrible mistake if Liverpool were to let the winger go.

Salah is still in fantastic shape and is Liverpool’s main goal threat. His record stands at 12 goals and 10 assists from 18 appearances so far this term.

TEAMtalk understands Liverpool chiefs remain calm about the situations of Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk, believing they are in a good position to keep all three.

On Monday, journalist Ben Jacobs revealed Liverpool are in talks with Salah’s representative, Ramy Abbas, and these discussions have been ‘positive’ despite no concrete offer emerging just yet.

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher gave his verdict on the Egyptian’s situation on Monday Night Football.

“Right now there’s obviously a big difference in the valuation. What Mo Salah and his agent value themselves at, whether that’s financially or in terms of length of contract, to what Liverpool do,” Carragher said.

“So the reason Liverpool wouldn’t have offered a contract yet is because Mo Salah will turn it down, so they’re still in talks. I’m desperate for them to meet in the middle, but I must say I am very disappointed with Mo Salah. That interview yesterday after the game and it comes out today.

“Liverpool have got Real Madrid midweek and they’ve got Manchester City at the weekend, that’s the story for Liverpool right now.

“Mo Salah, we’re all quite aware, certainly the local reporters are in Liverpool, that in the seven years he’s been at the football club he’s stopped in the mixed zone twice, which is his right, which is absolutely fine.

“But he decided to stop for the third time away at Southampton on the back of winning Liverpool the game and putting that out.

“Now the most important thing for Liverpool this season is not the future of Mo Salah, it’s not the future of Virgil van Dijk and it’s not the future of Trent Alexander-Arnold.

“The most important thing is Liverpool winning the Premier League. That is more important than any of those players, and if he continues to put comments out or his agent keeps putting cryptic tweets out, that’s selfish, that’s thinking about themselves and not the football club.”

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Liverpool transfers: Two top targets named; huge signing advice

Meanwhile, sources have confirmed to TEAMtalk that Milos Kerkez and Martin Zubimendi are Liverpool’s two main targets for the January window.

Liverpool have identified left-back and central midfield as areas for improvement, with Bournemouth star Kerkez and Real Sociedad’s Zubimendi their desired targets.

Although, Liverpool may only have the funds to sign one of those two players in January, meaning their second swoop might have to wait until the summer.

Amid growing talk of Salah potentially leaving Liverpool, the Reds have been told to ‘break the bank’ for a world-class replacement in attack.

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy believes Liverpool should launch an audacious move for Vinicius Junior if he decides he does not want to extend his Real Madrid contract.

Salah boasts remarkable Liverpool record