Why Mohamed Salah contract standoff threatens unique bond between Liverpool and their fans
Fans are angry and upset after Mohamed Salah claimed Liverpool have still yet to offer him a deal as the clock ticks down on his contract with the club
by David Anderson · The MirrorLiverpool have long prided themselves on the unique bond they have with their supporters.
Formed by Bill Shankly, it was strengthened by Hillsborough and that oneness between the team and the fans helps makes Anfield intimidating for opposition sides. But on Monday morning it was shaken to its very core when Mohamed Salah’s interview about his contract situation was published and he claimed he was “more out than in” with regards to his Anfield future.
Liverpool fans around the world reacted with stunned disbelief, which quickly became anger, at the very-real prospect of one of their greatest-ever players leaving on a free in July because the club did not do enough to keep him. Salah very rarely speaks to the media after games and his decision to go public, after his two goals earned Liverpool a priceless win at Southampton to go eight points clear in the title race, was carefully considered.
The Egypt star wants to stay, but only if the club give him what he - and his agent Ramy Abbas - feel he is worth and the length of contract he feels he deserves. He is currently Liverpool’s best-paid player ever on a reported £350,000-a-week and turns 33 in June to further complicate negotiations.
For Liverpool fans it is a total no-brainer and they want Liverpool and their American owners FSG to give him what he wants. The stats back them up and since Salah joined Liverpool for a knockdown £32million from Roma in 2017, he is the Premier League’s top scorer with 165 goals in his 262 appearances.
He is second in assists since then with 74 and his combined tally of 239 goals and assists is 70 better than anyone else. Unlike many of his thirtysomething peers, like Casemiro and Kevin De Bruyne, age has not wearied Salah and he has a remarkable 12 goals and 10 assists this season from just 18 appearances.
Liverpool would not be eight points clear in the title race and top of the Champions League with a 100 per cent record without Salah and his value is clear for all to see. His fingerprints are all over Liverpool’s successes since 2019 and he scores big goals in big games.
Replacing a player of that talent in the transfer market would cost around £100million next summer plus he would want a fat contract. Liverpool must be less impulsive and more considered and handing a two or three-year deal on big money to a player who will be 33 in June is almost unheard of.
But failing to agree terms and saying goodbye to him in July would be disastrous if fans’ eyes. Arne Slot has done wonders this season, succeeding Jurgen Klopp seamlessly and powering Liverpool to the top of the Premier League and Champions League.
Losing Salah in the summer would undermine all that hard work and there is triple jeopardy for Liverpool because skipper Virgil van Dijk and vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold are in similar positions. FSG have only made rare missteps since taking over at Anfield in 2010, such as their support for the ill-fated European Super League in 2021.
The fan outrage over that proposal soon passed as they quickly performed a U-turn in tandem with the Premier League’s other big clubs. Supporters will not be anywhere near as forgiving if they cannot hang on to Salah.
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