Mohamed Salah has signed a new contract at Liverpool.
The Egyptian’s future was up in the air for over a year. There were many suggestions that he could leave Liverpool on a free transfer and move to Saudi Arabia.
Salah has had a phenomenal season and is the biggest reason why the Reds are one step away from winning the Premier League title.
Losing him would’ve been a massive blow, but thankfully for the Reds, he has agreed to stay and has penned a brand new contract.
But what convinced him? Fabrizio Romano has the answer.
What made the difference in contract talks between Liverpool and Mohamed Salah
Liverpool had been in talks with Salah over a new contract for several months.
The Reds had been working really hard to try and extend his stay, but there were times when it looked like an agreement would not be reached.
But, Richard Hughes convinced Salah to put pen to paper, and the Egypt international’s future is now secured for a couple more years.
Romano has now revealed that money was definitely an important factor, but what ‘changed the story’ was Arne Slot’s approach.
The journalist said in his Daily Briefing: “Salah is also very happy with Arne Slot as a coach, and with the Liverpool long-term project. These were two crucial factors in him staying at Anfield.
“Of course, money was important too, as is always the case in football, but what really changed the story is the coach Arne Slot – the approach he had this season and also the vision of the club to try to win trophies in the coming years.
“This vision really convinced Mo Salah, he also knew it was basically the same for Virgil van Dijk, and so to see another leader like the captain Van Dijk committing to a new contract was also important.
“So, in the end, he said no to Saudi, while in Europe, there were never concrete opportunities because clubs were interested, but he was not exploring that sort of move – it was basically Saudi or Liverpool.
“But already in the last few the months, the idea of Salah became very clear, and that was to stay and compete in a Liverpool shirt.”
What next for Liverpool?
As TBR Football exclusively revealed, along with Salah, Virgil van Dijk will sign a new contract at Liverpool, and his deal is expected to be two years long as well.
After that, Ibrahima Konate could be the next one to sign a new deal.
The Frenchman will enter the final year of his contract this summer, and talks have been going on between the club and his representatives.
It remains to be seen if that will be sorted out before the end of this season.
