Mohamed Salah’s latest comments have offered clear encouragement regarding the ongoing saga of a possible new contract
Okay, it perhaps wasn’t quite the six-word message Liverpool supporters are desperate to see from Mohamed Salah.
But there is every reason to take encouragement from the Egyptian’s latest public pronouncement.
“It is still in our hands” posted Salah on social media late on Sunday night having scored his 20th Premier League goal of the season in the Reds’ victory at Brighton the previous day.
The statement was, of course, in reference to Liverpool’s title hopes, Jurgen klopp’s side still having control of their destiny despite remaining behind leaders Manchester City in the table.
So what, it could be argued. After all, for some time it has been known that if the Reds win their remaining games by a sufficient margin, they will be regain the championship they lost to City last season.
What’s notable, though, is that it was Salah’s first statement since Klopp sparked the latest development – or, indeed, non-development – of the player’s ongoing contract saga ahead of the weekend trip to the South Coast.
“It’s Mo’s decision pretty much,” said the Reds boss. “The club did what the club can do.”
The upshot offered little fresh light on the saga, even if Salah’s wearisome agent Ramy Abbas unsuccessfully attempted to stir the pot with another ill-considered cryptic message on social media.
Talks with Liverpool over a new deal have stalled given the failure to reach agreement with Salah and his representatives over his true worth to the club.
Fenway Sports Group have no issue making Salah the highest-paid player at the club. The sticking point is precisely how that can be achieved without completely smashing the Anfield wage structure less than 12 months after the majority of the squad core penned lucrative long-term contracts.
The longer the impasse continues, the greater the speculation and sense of unease among supporters will increase.
But, clearly, one person not being overly affected is the one who matters most – Salah himself. And that he remains unshakeably dedicated to the Liverpool cause gives fans one less reason to be concerned.
Salah has made no secret of his preference to stay at Anfield. He knows that, as much as he has been integral to success under Jurgen Klopp, the foundations laid by the Reds boss have given him the opportunity to become arguably the best player in the world.
And there has been absolutely nothing to suggest that commitment will waver should the clock tick over into the final 12 months of his present contract.
Salah’s obvious love of playing for Liverpool – and the adoration bestowed on him by the fans – means it would be completely out of character if he agitates for a move during the summer transfer window. Whether his agent sees it the same way, though, remains to be seen.
For his part, Klopp has already shown with Emre Can, Gini Wijnaldum and, to a certain extent, Adam Lallana that he is more than happy to continue calling on players coming to the end of their contract if he believes they can still be of benefit to the team.
That would be a no-brainer regards Salah. And FSG have previously backed the judgement of the Reds boss in this regard.
Then there is the instant impact of Luis Diaz, which has been timely in not only showing Liverpool possess the ambition to keep improving that Salah is rightly seeking, but also that there are always other players out there.
Salah will be 31 when his current deal expires and, as things stand, he becomes a free agent. The very best players are continuing to achieve towards their mid-30s, but there are very few clubs who would be willing and are able to splash out mammoth wages on a long-term contract for a new player in his thirties, even if there would be no transfer fee.
Matters, however, are a long way from reaching such a point. Indeed, the immediate worry is whether the forward can overcome the foot problem that forced him off at Brighton in time for Wednesday’s crucial Premier League clash at Arsenal.
Liverpool supporters won’t rest easy until Salah declares: “I am signing my new contract.”
For now, though, the Egyptian’s latest message underlines he will be fully invested in success at Anfield for as long as he remains at the club. With so much still at stake, that’s what matters most right now.
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