Liverpool manager Arne Slot has made it abundantly clear that the club is eager to extend Mohamed Salah’s contract, as the Egyptian forward enters the final six months of his current deal. With interest from the Saudi Pro League intensifying, Liverpool remains firm in their stance to retain their talismanic player.
Mohamed Salah has long been one of the most sought-after players in world football, and recent reports suggest that Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal is the most likely destination should he decide to leave Anfield. However, Liverpool remains committed to keeping him in their squad beyond the summer.
When asked about Mohamed Salah’s contract and Saudi Arabia’s interest, Slot emphasized how valuable the Egyptian winger is to the club.
“I would be surprised if there was anyone anywhere around the world saying, ‘We don’t want Mo Salah’,” Slot stated in a recent press conference. “He’s been performing at an elite level for so many years that every club probably wants him.”
Slot also pointed out that MohamedSalah is experienced enough to make his own career decisions and acknowledged that while Saudi Arabia is keen on signing him, Liverpool is equally eager to secure his services for the long term.
“He has done so well without my advice for a long time, so he can probably keep making the right decisions on his own,” Slot continued. “But my advice to him would certainly be different from what you’ve heard from the Saudi minister. We want him to stay and extend his contract. That is clear.”
Saudi Pro League’s Persistent Pursuit of MohamedSalah
The Saudi Pro League has made no secret of its desire to bring Mohamed Salah to the Middle East. Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Saudi Arabia’s sports minister, recently stated that they would make every effort to sign the forward in the summer transfer window.
Despite this, Liverpool is keen to secure Mohamed Salah’s future at the club. The team’s ambitions remain high, and losing a player of MohamedSalah’s caliber would be a significant blow. Slot reiterated that Liverpool’s desire to extend Salah’s contract should not be surprising, given his contributions to the team.
“Everyone wants him, including us,” Slot reaffirmed. “We want him to extend, and that is clear. I am not surprised that Saudi Arabia wants him, but I wouldn’t be surprised if other clubs were interested as well.”
Mohamed Salah’s future is up in the air / Carl Recine/GettyImages
Contract Negotiations: Mohamed Salah, Van Dijk, and Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool is not only working on extending Mohamed Salah’s contract but also negotiating new deals for Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, two other key players who are nearing the end of their contracts. Slot acknowledged that discussions are taking place but refused to reveal specific details.
“Of course, I speak to these players,” Slot confirmed. “I speak with them quite often, though not as frequently as Richard Hughes (Liverpool’s sporting director). It would be ridiculous if, in all the times we’ve spoken, we never talked about the future. Of course, we do.”
However, the Liverpool boss remained tight-lipped about the exact nature of those discussions, reiterating that contract talks are private matters.
“That is not something I am going to discuss publicly,” Slot added. “But these conversations are not limited to the three players whose contracts are running out. We also discuss future plans with other squad members.”
As Liverpool continues its battle for domestic and European success, securing the futures of Mohamed Salah, Van Dijk, and Alexander-Arnold remains a top priority. MohamedSalah, in particular, has been instrumental to Liverpool’s success over the past several years, and his presence in the squad is crucial for their title aspirations.
While Saudi clubs are expected to continue their pursuit of Mohamed Salah, Liverpool’s stance remains unchanged: they want their star forward to extend his stay at Anfield. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether Mohamed Salah remains a Red or embarks on a new chapter in his career elsewhere.