Danny Murphy has told talkSPORT Mohamed Salah demanding double what anyone else earns at Liverpool to sign a new contract would be surprising.
Reports by the Mirror claim Jurgen Klopp wants Salah to extend his stay. But the Egyptian, who is under contract until 2023, requests £500k-a-week to renew, more than double his current £200k-p/w.
The alleged figure would also make Salah the Reds’ highest-earner and the second-best-paid player in the Premier League. Per Spotrac, only Cristiano Ronaldo makes more than £400k-p/w, while Virgil van Dijk is now Liverpool’s top-earner at £220k-p/w.
“Mo Salah is not the type of person who is going to start demanding double what anyone else is earning at the football club,” Murphy said. “I’d be very surprised if that was the case, but never say never. If Mbappe goes next summer, PSG will want to replace Mbappe with a superstar who can score goals. There’s not many better than Salah. I would hope not,
“It’s very difficult for me to give perspective on this because would I ever leave Liverpool to go PSG? No, because Liverpool is my team. Mo Salah in the past, there has been some rumours about wanting to play in Spain. But if you’re talking about playing in Spain to fulfil a childhood dream, it’s very different to being greedy and money.
“Salah doesn’t seem unhappy, he seems when you watch him play that he’s still full of beans, full of energy, full of appetite and desire. He doesn’t look like a player who’s bored of where he is, who’s lost his desire to be the best. He looks bang at it again. It wouldn’t surprise me if in the next two months that deal [a new Liverpool contract] is done.”
Is Salah worth £500k-p/w to Liverpool, or is Murphy right?
Salah has been Liverpool’s talisman since joining, so may believe he deserves to be paid handsomely, but Murphy suggests not. Instead, the former Reds midfielder seemingly feels the 29-year-old sees his future at Anfield, so will play-ball to ensure that.
The Reds would be unlikely to offer Salah the alleged £500k-p/w requested, anyway. While their Premier League rivals may pay more, Liverpool renewed a raft of deals and made Van Dijk their top-earner. Salah would expect to earn more than the defender, but not double.
Yet if Salah is banking on taking Liverpool to the cleaners, Murphy may be right to suggest replacing Kylian Mbappe. The Egyptian may get his sought-after payday in Paris, and can show the Ligue 1 giants he is worth £500k-p/w by shining at Anfield once again this term.
The 69-cap winger has started the season very strongly with two goals and two assists in three Premier League games. One of his strikes and each assist did come against newly-promoted and early strugglers Norwich. But he also netted the equaliser against Chelsea.
Additionally, Salah never offered two assists in the same top-flight fixture last season as he ended the term with five. He also only scored and assisted in the same game twice, against Wolves and Crystal Palace. So, could be set for a sensational season if his initial form lasts.
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