Journalist David Ornstein has shed light on the potential reason behind Liverpool’s stalled contract talks with star man Mohamed Salah.
The future of the 29-year-old remains undecided, with his current contract expiring at the end of the 2022/23 campaign – though he has publicly stated that he will at least see out the remainder of his deal at Anfield.
With Sadio Mane set to head out of Anfield, the Reds have to plan carefully so as not to lose the duo without at least getting their money’s worth as they remould their frontline, following the addition of Darwin Nunez.
The centre-forward will follow ex-FC Porto winger Luis Diaz, who joined from the Primeira Liga back in January, and it is believed that his transfer fee will rise to €100m (£85m), a club-record.
But while the logistics behind the deal may seem extortionate, Ornstein is adamant that the wages involved won’t break the current structure at the club but what it may take to keep Salah at the club.
Will Salah stay at Liverpool?
Yes
No
On The Athletic Football Podcast, he said: “What is essential here is the wage structure that needs to be respected for Liverpool to keep a harmonious camp and to remain sustainable.
“Paying Mo Salah in excess of £400k a week as he heads into his 30s is one thing. It’s a much bigger question than paying Darwin Nunez, I don’t know what it will be about 80, 90, 100, 110,000 a week.
“That slots in perfectly and that is part of Liverpool’s methodology going forward. Paying in excess of 400,000 pounds a week is not, and perhaps that’s why we don’t have an agreement on Salah as things stand.”
TIF Thoughts on Salah leaving Liverpool…
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It does seem like Liverpool are unwilling to break their wage structure to make Salah the highest-paid player in the league, despite his recent PFA Players’ Player of the Year award.
Nonetheless, perhaps this is the right time for the Reds to move on, as much as it will hurt to see their superstar forward depart. He is going to need replacing sooner rather than later, and with Diaz brought in for the left and Nunez through the middle, maybe now Julian Ward will have his eyes set on a right-winger to try and fill the void.
It already appears that Klopp has a continuation plan in place, as Sport (via Daily Star) is claiming that the Merseysiders have already submitted a bid of £60m for Leeds United winger Raphinha, so perhaps he is the heir to the Egyptian king’s throne, and like Diaz, he will electrify the Anfield faithful.
Sadly Salah will be remembered for being a money grabber, sell him now.