Contract 'demands' on the table as Liverpool told how much Mohamed Salah is truly worth

Liverpool are entering new territory in the transfer market. Instead of taking command of their own fate, now they must be prepared for multiple possibilities, and it all comes back to Mohamed Salah and that soon-to-be expiring contract of his.

The Reds have been almost unstoppable on the field under new boss Arne Slot, sitting top of the Premier League, top of the Champions League, plus still defending their League Cup crown. But even if the new head coach had made the opposite impact, the debate over the long-term future of Salah - as well as team-mates Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold - would have still raged on.

All three have expiring deals come the end of the season, and all three will have been waiting to see how the club handled this latest period of change. Superbly is the word that now springs to mind, and this can be said for the Egyptian's case too, as last weekend he reached 10 goals and 10 assists for the new campaign.

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Still, the clock ticks down on the renewal of his contract, with all outcomes needing to be accounted for. Here, the Liverpool ECHO looks at the latest being said about Salah and a potential replacement, were it to come to that...

'You can't replace him'

In crystal clear terms, former Premier League striker Gabby Agbonlahor says the Reds cannot afford to lose Salah and the goals that he provides for the team.

"He was back to his best. What can I say? My team Aston Villa couldn’t deal with him," the pundit told talkSPORT in reference to last Saturday's 2-0 win.

"I mean, you look at the counter-attack for the [Darwin] Nunez goal, that pace he has still got at his age, he is not slowing down, but it was a threat all-round. He was showing his strength, he was making great runs, he was putting great balls in behind for Nunez and got the assist and goal in the game.

"Even the way he took his goal, running through. Most players square that. He’s so adamant he’s going to score. Takes his time, little dink over the keeper."

In a final message to the Reds hierarchy, he added: "An outstanding performance from Mo Salah. And Liverpool have to tie him down. Whatever they want. If it’s £500k a week, Liverpool have to give it to him because you can’t replace him."

Reds and rivals given contract demands

As they focus on the renewal of Salah's terms at Anfield, there may be the requirement to remain switched on to activity elsewhere in the market were they to be left seeking a replacement come next summer.

One forward that has been linked with a switch to the Reds in the past is another who finds himself out of contract next summer, Jonathan David. The 24-year-old scorer of 97 goals and provider of 20 assists at Ligue 1's Lille - finds himself in a similar boat to the Reds' current talisman.

The latest report to claim Liverpool interest, arriving from Italian outlet Tuttosport, also suggests the exact amount they or any interested rival would have to pay the player after he signs for free. His demands are allegedly €6m (£4.9m) per year, and he would want a five-year deal - a steep increase on the €2.5m-€3m (£2m-£2.4m) he is rumoured to be earning currently.

This would average out at around £95k per week, leaving the Reds and other linked clubs, Juventus, Barcelona, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea, with a decision to make.