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FSG have 36 days to avoid repeating mistake with Mohamed Salah Liverpool transfer clause
Much like his double on Sunday, Mohamed Salah’s post-match contract comments were perfectly timed. Make no mistake, it is no coincidence that he made reference to his future after sending Liverpool eight points clear at the top of the table.
It is rare for Salah to speak to the media, and when he does it always makes headlines. After the ECHO broke the news this morning, there were thousands upon thousands of readers on the article at one stage. Salah’s future matters to people.
And to be frank, Salah has very much earned the right to place public pressure on the board. Not least because of his astonishing output but he is also the only one of the soon-to-be out of contract trio to have made it crystal clear that he wishes to stay at Anfield.
READ MORE: Mohamed Salah speaks out on Liverpool contract and admits he's 'disappointed' in rare interview
Virgil van Dijk has confirmed that talks are ongoing but that he has always delivered the “we will see” line in regards to his future. Trent Alexander-Arnold said he could only at least commit until the end of the season.
It seems unthinkable, and very unlikely, that all three will leave. But it is entirely possible that not all stay amid the need to balance finances.
From January, as per transfer rules, these players can speak to overseas clubs about their futures and even sign pre-contract agreements. This is particularly pertinent in the case of Alexander-Arnold amid the persistent links with Real Madrid.
While Van Dijk and Salah may have fewer esteemed options who are willing to pay the same rate of wage, the pair are sure to have interest come the new year - which arrives in just 36 days. Salah refused to rule out a potential move to Saudi when asked on Sunday.
"I don't want to speak about that,” he said. “I am focused with the team now… I'm just playing my game, trying to chill and relax and just play.”
However, he underlined: "Well, we are almost in December and I haven't received any offers yet to stay in the club. [So] I'm probably more out than in.”
One former Liverpool player told this reporter in the minutes after the story broke: “I guess he wants a bit more love from them [Liverpool].” It would be inaccurate to say he has been cold-shouldered given talks are ongoing with his agent, but it seems evident Salah is wondering what FSG and the board are waiting for.
Salah - who says he is disappointed not to have signed a renewal yet - was the subject of a £150million bid from Al-Ittihad last year. The winger, 33 in June, says he does not envisage retiring any time soon and so any calls from Saudi in January may be turned down.
The problem, otherwise, is that while nearly every club would take the Egyptian in a heartbeat, few could afford him. And those who could might not wish to.
Real Madrid already have a hefty wage balance, Paris Saint-Germain are moving away from superstar names and Bayern Munich would likely need to sell some younger key stars to afford him. FSG might feel they are in an advantageous position.
Though, the owners also have history with making a big blunder for the sake of finances. Baseball superstar Mookie Betts was allowed to leave the Boston Red Sox in 2019 after unsuccessfully asking for a bumper pay rise.
He ended up joining rivals the LA Dodgers, owned by Chelsea chief Todd Boehly, and went on to win the World Series twice - the first coming in his maiden season. The decision to let Betts go has been widely categorised as a huge mistake.
Betts was 27 when he was let go by the Red Sox, with Liverpool ace Salah currently 32. But otherwise, there are striking similarities between the case of Betts and Salah. Liverpool fans will hope FSG has learned its lesson.
There is still the possibility that potential suitors try to chance their arm for Salah in January. It's not often that a superstar at the top of his game enters the final six months of their contract.
Six months - after which Salah would currently become a free agent - is plenty of time to manoeuvre finances if the attacker is indeed the man they want at all costs. The only way to dissolve that possibility is to hand him a renewal before the year is out.
The longer Salah remains without a renewal, the longer his contract situation becomes a distraction. Surely - surely - FSG has a simple contract decision to make with star player Salah.
With Liverpool potentially going 11 points clear of the current Premier League champions with a win over Manchester City on Sunday, anything that derails the title hunt should be dealt with pronto. That includes wrapping up a new deal for Salah.
