Mo Salah verdict on new Liverpool contract ‘abundantly clear’ as FSG are warned ‘parameters must be bent’

Negotiations between Liverpool and Mo Salah over a new contract are “ongoing” despite claims to the contrary from the Egyptian superstar – and with an in-the-know Sky Sports reporter revealing all about the player’s feelings about staying, but with a warning issued to Fenway Sports Group on the rules they must break to ensure he signs on the dotted line.

Salah has played a part in 320 goals (223 scored, 97 assists) since signing for Liverpool back in summer 2017 and is widely considered to be their most important and influential player. But with the 32-year-old finding himself falling out of contract at Anfield next summer, the star will be eligible to sign a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club of his choosing from January 1 – now just 36 days away.

As that deadline draws ever closer, Salah went public on his future earlier this week, revealing the Reds have yet to put an offer on the table to him and extraordinarily revealing he is “more out than in” with regards a future at Anfield at this moment in time.

Those claims have since been branded “selfish” by an angry Jamie Carragher, who has made it clear that everyone knows what Salah is doing.

But as the situation threatens to turn sour, Sky Sports reporter Melissa Reddy, who knows Salah well on a personal level, has shed light on the saga.

“It’s important to stress negotiations are ongoing between Liverpool and Salah’s representative, Remy Abbas. I’m told those are open, developing conversations. But ultimately, a formal proposal is only made when you’ve agreed on all the terms you are discussing,” Reddy told Sky Sports.

“Things are progressing in the right direction, but obviously there is a gap between what Salah wants and what Liverpool are prepared to put on the table. There has to be a compromise on both sides.

“Liverpool have to think about long-term squad planning, the age profile of the team, and about operating sustainably. But they would need to bend their parameters for Salah.”

Salah has also confirmed he wants to stay at Anfield beyond this season, according to Reddy.

“He has made it abundantly clear he loves Liverpool and wants to stay. So there also needs to be a bit of compromise on his side, and because there is a will to get a deal done from both parties, it will ultimately get there.”

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Salah deal to have knock-on effect for Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk

Reddy, however, claims that FSG know that any offer to Salah will also impact negotiations with Van Dijk and, in particular, Alexander-Arnold, with the latter being strongly courted by Real Madrid.

“There is an element of Liverpool being conscious that whatever concessions they make with Salah, they also have two other big contract issues to sort with Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, so there might be a bit of a knock-on effect there,” she added.

“I’m told the club are very calm, but you can understand why the players, especially with the status of Salah, aren’t feeling that way.”

On Salah’s ambitions, she continued: “He still wants to compete for domestic titles and the Champions League. If he’s looking around, which top club would have space for him, and the ability to pay him what he deserves, and give him the freedom he wants?”

After going public with his comments on his future, Reddy insists she fully understands Salah for going public, offering an alternative view from that of Carragher.

“You can understand why Salah has termed it this way. He doesn’t have a new offer on the table, it’s nearly December and he can speak to overseas clubs in January, which is just a blink away!”

The message from our sources also reflect that of what Reddy has said and the message coming out from those close to Liverpool stress that the Reds ‘remain calm’ on the situation. Now whether that means they are confident in ultimately agreeing a deal, or if they are simply at peace with whatever situation arises over his future remains to be seen.

The player is currently the highest-paid player in Liverpool’s history, earning a huge £350,000 a week. And while Salah remains at the very top of his game, at the age of 32, there does not remain much wriggle room in terms of how long a deal they can offer him, nor on a possible salary increase.

To that end, while we understand that a gap between both parties still exists, what Salah wants and what Liverpool are prepared to offer is being handled very much behind closed doors and we understand that sort of information will simply never see the light of day.

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Latest Liverpool news: Double January deal planned; Sunderland striker eyed

Meanwhile, we’ve also been informed that Arne Slot will be offered a sizeable transfer kitty to strengthen his squad in the January window if the right players come onto the market for Liverpool.

To that end, the Reds boss has two priority positions in mind with a new left-back and a midfielder on his wishlist – and with Liverpool chiefs pushing to bring both Milos Kerkez and Martin Zubimendi to Anfield in January.

On the subject of Zubimendi, it’s also been reported that the player’s stance on a possible move has now shifted, giving Liverpool renewed belief that a €60m deal could be on the cards for the Euro 2024 winner after all.

Elsewhere, the Reds are also reported to be tracking Sunderland prodigy Trey Ogunsuyi – with the move for the teenage striker potentially facilitated by the departure of one of the Reds’ own attacking prospects.

Every club linked with Mo Salah amid Liverpool contract doubts

By Samuel Bannister

Al Hilal – The Saudi Pro League seems intent on landing Salah again after trying in 2023 and the preferred destination this time around would be reigning champions Al Hilal due to their upcoming participation in the 2025 Club World Cup.

Al-Ittihad – Similarly, Al-Ittihad were the club who could have signed Salah in 2023, so expect to see them mentioned again – but despite being in a title race this season, they seem to be in a slightly weaker position in terms of winning the battle to take him to Saudi Arabia than before.

Al-Nassr – There were some whispers that Cristiano Ronaldo wanted Salah to join him at Al-Nassr, and though the validity remains up for question, additional Saudi suitors on top of Al Hilal cannot be ruled out.

Barcelona – Always alert to free transfer opportunities and one of the most tempting clubs he could join in terms of stature, Barcelona have been linked with Salah, although other sources have suggested conflict within the club over whether to pursue the winger or not.

Galatasaray – It seems highly unlikely that Salah would go to Galatasaray, but people would have thought the same for Victor Osimhen – or so the somewhat speculative Turkish media argued when claiming the Istanbul outfit could tempt the winger with a big contract offer upon the expiry of his Liverpool deal.

Inter – Like Barcelona, Inter have attracted many experienced talents on free transfers in recent years and they have recently been tipped – solely by club-specific outlets at this stage – to join the race for Salah, who had previous spells in Serie A with Fiorentina and Roma.

Juventus – An alternative route back to Italy could be with Juventus, who were linked with Salah a couple of months ago as a dream target – but the link did not come from strong sources.

PSG – The likeliest European side to be able to match what the Saudi Pro League can offer in terms of finances, PSG could make Salah a marquee signing, since they are believed to be willing to make significant offers of salary and contract length to him.

San Diego FC – A move to MLS would seem unlikely for Salah, but expansion side San Diego FC would have a specific motivation: their owner is the Egyptian-born British billionaire Sir Mohamed Mansour, who could charm his country of birth’s greatest ever athlete with a lucrative offer.