No matter how this season ends for Liverpool, the situation involving Mohamed Salah’s contract is likely to be one of the stories of the final few months of the campaign. As it stands, he could leave for nothing — though talks are ongoing.
Amid the wait for news on what might happen next, Liverpool’s former director of research Ian Graham has revealed he was “surprised” at what he discovered when Salah last negotiated a new deal at Anfield. Graham helped work on the three-year contract Salah — then 30 — signed in the summer of 2022.
Now 32, Salah has scored a remarkable 25 goals and provided 16 assists in 27 Premier League games so far this season. In all competitions, he has 30 goals and 22 assists, with the Reds a leading contender for the Champions League too.
“At that time, I thought I would not recommend for players of his age to sign a contract,” Graham said at the Financial Times Business of Football summit this week. “But this was the strength of the data that forces you to take an objective viewpoint. It surprises you.
“I was surprised at looking at his caliber of player and how they could go into their 30s [still] performing at the same level. When those players drop off, it tends to be a drop in minutes rather than in quality.
“We decided to give him a contract in the summer of 2022 and that was a hard piece of work. I am delighted I am not responsible for that piece of work today!”
Arne Slot has joked recently that it might cost more to tie Salah down than it would have a few months ago because he has been playing so well. But in truth, there are no better places for the Liverpool ace to go.
(Image: Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
“I want fans to remember that I gave it all to the fans, I gave it all to the city,” Salah told TNT Sports this week. “I was here, I wasn’t lazy, I just enjoyed my football and gave it all.
“I think that’s what the city is about — they give you love and you have a connection with them because you give your all. I just want them to remember that I was here for eight years and I gave it all.”
Liverpool.com says: Whichever way to look at it, Salah staying at Liverpool still makes sense. He is on big wages but you can hardly argue with that at the moment. His levels are so high that even if he drops off a little, he will still be the Reds’ most potent attacker.
He has never really had a history with injuries and his game has developed so his lesser speed isn’t an issue. It is hard to believe that Salah will be considerably worse next season and the one after, and right now, he is currently considerably better than everyone else.
