Why are negotiations with Salah difficult?

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Salah is one of the best players in the world and his phenomenal form backs that up:

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• - 12 goals and 10 assists in 18 games in the 2024/25 season.
• - He became the first player from the top 5 European leagues to reach double digits in both categories this season.
• - An important factor in Liverpool's success in the English Championship and Champions League, where the team holds a 100% record.

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However, time is playing against the club. With only seven months left on his contract, Salah will be able to sign a tentative deal with any foreign club in 37 days.

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The history of the negotiations and the current situation

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This is not the first time Salah has publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the negotiations. The 2022 extension took over a year to complete and the player was given a three-year contract with a base salary of £350,000 a week, which together with bonuses and image rights brings in around £1m a week. The situation is now complicated by a number of factors:

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1. 1. Age: Salah will celebrate his 33rd birthday in June 2025, forcing the club to consider the risks when offering a new long-term contract.
2. 2. Management changes: Jurgen Klopp's departure in November 2023 brings major changes to Liverpool's soccer structure, including the appointment of a new coach and sporting director.
3. 3. Departing stars: In addition to Salah, Virgil van Dijk, another key figure at the club, has a contract expiring.

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Liverpool and his intentions

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The club have already proved Salah's worth by rejecting a £150m offer from Al-Ittihad last summer. However, it is now important to not only convince the player to stay, but to do so in time to avoid the risk of losing the star as a free agent. As Jurgen Klopp said in 2022: "Extending a contract with a player of Salah's level is not a meeting over a cup of tea. It is a long and complex process."

What's next?

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Salah remains Liverpool's most important link and talks with him will determine the future of the team. Here are the possible developments:

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1. 1. Contract extension: Terms could include increased wages but a shorter term.
2. 2. Leaving in summer 2025: Liverpool could lose one of the best players in the world if they break up.
3. 3. Transition in winter 2025: Possibility of selling the player in January to avoid leaving as a free agent.

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Regardless of the outcome, negotiations with Salah are not just a matter of money, but a symbol of Liverpool's commitment to their star players.