Liverpool head coach Arne Slot and Reds legend Jamie Carragher are both in agreement over the name of one person who deserves credit for tying talismanic forward Mohamed Salah down to a new two-year contract.
“Throughout the process, most of the criticism has been directed at Liverpool and their new sporting director, Richard Hughes, for not resolving such a critical issue sooner,” Carragher wrote in his column for The Telegraph.
“It was unwarranted. Liverpool approached this exactly how they had to. They have played a blinder, refusing to cave in to pressure. It does not matter how good a player is, you do not rush to give long and lucrative contract extensions to players who will be 32 and 33 at the end of their current deals. Only poorly run clubs operate in that way.
“When Hughes was headhunted by Fenway Sports Group football supremo Michael Edwards at the end of last season he could have been forgiven for thinking he was chucked a few hand grenades before he had even settled into the role.
“One of the world’s great managers, Jurgen Klopp, needed replacing, while three legendary players would be free to agree to a pre-contract agreement with other clubs from January.
“Slot’s appointment has proven a masterstroke. Now Salah is signed up with Virgil van Dijk to follow. If, as expected, Trent Alexander-Arnold leaves, that is more to do with his desire to play for Real Madrid than anything the current heads of Liverpool’s football department could have done to prevent it.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Slot was in agreement regarding the role of Hughes. The former Bournemouth sporting director took on a huge job last summer but, as Carragher says, has got the big calls right.
“I don’t think it’s a surprise to you that I knew a bit better how his contract situation went over the course of the whole season,” Slot told reporters in his press conference on Friday.
“Maybe for the fans it was a pleasant surprise. I knew a bit longer of course that things were heading in the right direction. I think it’s also a big compliment for Richard that he achieved to extend Mo Salah, who is such a great player.
“As a free agent, he could go to probably every club in the world. But he stays at our club, and that’s also a compliment for Richard, I think. I’m part of that process, but I don’t think I deserve the compliments.
Learn more
“I think first of all, it’s Mo’s choice, his agent’s choice, what he wants. And second of all the club, FSG, Richard, Michael Edwards, they put a lot of effort in for him to extend.
“And effort mostly means money! But also effort, not only money. What it might tell you as well is that it’s not only a good season this season, we want to make it a very good season next season as well.”
Liverpool.com says: It was a no-brainer for the Reds to keep Salah and also for the player himself to stay. Ultimately, neither has ended up looking silly in the situation, even though it has gone on for longer than most people thought it would have until a resolution has been found.
