Ally McCoist has predicted that Mohamed Salah will not be signing a new contract at Liverpool.
The Egypt international is out of contract at Liverpool in the summer of 2023.
And with an impasse in negotiations at the moment, this protracted saga is destined to rumble on a lot longer it would seem.
Reds’ supporters are desperate to see the 29-year-old commit his long-term future to Anfield.
We’re talking about one of the best Liverpool players of all time and given that he has a few years of his prime left, the fans – and Jurgen Klopp – will desperately want to keep him.
However, McCoist believes that the radio silence is an ominous sign that he won’t be staying on Merseyside beyond 2023.
He told Team Talk, on behalf of the National Lottery Football Weekends campaign: “It is looking increasingly like he will leave,” McCoist told us. Until they can come to agreeable terms, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.
“It’s an interesting situation because he is certainly one of if not the best player in Europe over the last 18 months or so. He has been phenomenal. I think we have reached a stage where Liverpool are saying they can’t overstep this mark that they can’t really go to (on wages) and it looks like it is a stalemate.”
Harmony
There’s been reports that Salah is looking for upwards of £400,000 per week to extend his contract at Liverpool.
And although Fenway Sports Group can afford to sanction such a massive wage hike, what knock-on effect will it have?
Salah isn’t the only star player in Klopp’s squad, with the likes of Sadio Mane – also out of contract in 2023 – Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson also massively important.
And the German manager probably won’t want ownership to bow to Salah’s demands before knowing for sure that it won’t lead to resentment in the group.
Harmony within the squad has been a major factor behind Liverpool’s success and if that’s comprised, the Reds won’t be giving Salah mega wages.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
