Liverpool are keenly expected Mohamed Salah to stay this summer and plan for him to be part of their squad next season.
The 31-year-old striker is nearing the final year of his contract and speculation is growing about his departure.
But Salah has given no indication that he will leave, which is in line with Liverpool’s wishes, and he is expected to remain at Anfield.
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The Egyptian foreigner remains linked with a move to Saudi Arabia following the search for Al Ittihad last summer, but the view in the Saudi Pro League (SPL) hierarchy is that Salah needs to crusade with Liverpool.
While their interest hasn’t gone away, it’s less competitive than when SPL were making a big investment in new signings last summer and Al Ittihad were targeting Salah to help them run their Club World Cup campaign.
If the striker does not extend his stay at Liverpool or dedicate himself elsewhere, the SPL would possibly prefer to sign Salah in 2025, when he will be 33 years old and there will be no transfer fee.
Its stage will be inherited by new director Richard Hughes, as well as the future of captain Virgil van Dijk and his assistant Trent Alexander Arnold, whose contracts expire at the same time as Salah’s.
Here are some of the issues that will need to be addressed once Arne Slot’s appointment as manager Jürgen Klopp’s successor is finalised.
Klopp gave the impression of having a heated exchange with Salah as he waited to be brought in as a second-half replacement in Saturday’s draw with West Ham United.
However, there has been no hint of internal fear related to the incident and even if there is a challenge between them, it doesn’t matter given Klopp’s impending departure.
Salah excelled in 2023-24, scoring 29 goals in 49 appearances for club and country in all competitions.
GO FURTHER
Klopp tried to put out the flames, but Salah’s ‘fire’ threw petrol on them: what does the long term hold?
(Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)