Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has one “final request” for Mohamed Salah after the Egyptian forward signed a two-year contract extension at Anfield this week. Virgil van Dijk is expected to follow suit, though a new deal for the Dutchman has not yet been confirmed.
“I must admit, it has not always been pleasurable to see what could be a title-winning campaign dominated by headlines regarding the future of key players,” Carragher wrote in his column for The Telegraph.
“Winning the league has always been the first and last priority above any individual. Arne Slot has been extremely diplomatic, fending off questions about the trio each week. With Salah and Van Dijk, that has finally been laid to rest.
“But there is one final request with regards to Salah on behalf of all of us who have loved every second of his Anfield career. I hope signing his contract does not mean that’s the end of his media interviews until the next round of negotiations are due! Can I book you in for Monday Night Football, Mo?”
Salah said he was “more out than in” at the end of 2024, bemoaning the fact that Liverpool had not put an offer on the table for him at that stage. And he has spoken a few times in an attempt to put pressure on the decision-makers.
“Through all those interviews since September, and all the weekly updates surrounding the future of the Egyptian and Van Dijk, there was always one common-sense conclusion: it would have been ridiculous had either of them refused to sign new deals,” Carragher wrote.
(Image: Nikki Dyer – LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
“Liverpool will not find a better attacker than Salah this summer, and he could not be at a better club at Liverpool at this stage of his career. When he considered his options, it was obvious he wanted to stay so he could edge closer to goalscoring records and pursue the big trophies and individual honors which have driven him towards his world-class status.”
Losing either player never felt likely but that it took until mid-April for the first contract extension to be confirmed was something of a surprise. Slot was quick to point to the good work done behind the scenes by sporting director Richard Hughes, but it is also a sign of Salah’s contentment working under the Dutch head coach, who replaced Jurgen Klopp last summer.
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“Liverpool would have been hammered for allowing a legend to leave, while questions would have been rightly asked of players who were walking out of the club at this moment in its history – top of the Premier League with the promise of further titles and Champions League bids,” Carragher said.
“When eras such as this come around, you need to make hay and grasp every opportunity. Salah and Van Dijk would have been accused of cutting their noses off to spite their faces if their contract expectations were not met. Thankfully, it has not come to that.”
Liverpool.com says: As Carragher says, losing either Salah or Van Dijk would have been the wrong move. Amid the celebrations at positive news emerging, relief is one of the strongest emotions. The saga looks to be over ahead of a big summer.
