Jamie Carragher reveals what Liverpool told him when he asked about Mohamed Salah contract

Jamie Carragher has suggested that Mohamed Salah's options outside Liverpool could be diminishing, urging the forward to be more "transparent" about his contract renewal demands if he is going to speak publicly.

The Liverpool legend has also doubled down on his view that Salah should keep quiet about what is happening behind the scenes in terms of negotiations. Carragher expressed his view that Salah's alternative destinations are becoming fewer, attributed to the financials that would be involved, in addition to a shrinking pool of genuine contenders for the Champions League.

"I love Mo Salah, he's one of the best players in the world, but the reason I say [he won't have many other options] is because of his age," Carragher said on the Stick To Football podcast brought to you by Sky Bet. "When you're on that type of money and you're talking about getting a raise — a raise isn't 10 or 20 grand a week.

• Jamie Carragher makes Mohamed Salah contract prediction and issues request to Liverpool star

• Liverpool vs Fulham injury news as 12 players may be missing and 3 banned amid Darwin Nunez dilemma

"How many attackers do Real Madrid have? Barcelona are in dire straits financially and PSG are nowhere near the team Liverpool are — there are only four or five teams that can realistically win the Champions League and Liverpool are one of them."

Carragher further speculated on Salah's ambitions and longevity at the top level: "He will stay as I'm not sure there are too many options. He's not ready to go to Saudi (Arabia) — he can do that in three years' time. Salah is that driven as a footballer to win the record of most goals or whatever that may be for Liverpool.

"Salah is reportedly on about £350,000 to £400,000 a week, and good luck to him, he deserves it, he's one of the best players in the world and should be paid that. But if you come out and say that the club haven't done this and the club haven't done that, then give us all [the details] and we can then we can decide [whose side we're on].

"Me personally, I think he should stay on the same amount of money and give him a two-year deal. Now, the club might be offering him one year and he might want three — we don't know what it is. I've tried to get information from the club because I knew I'd be asked about it, but they're not giving anything away."

Carragher also believes that Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose own contract stalemate has caught Real Madrid's attention, could face backlash from fans if he decides to move to the Spanish capital on a free transfer. He compared the situation to when Michael Owen and Steve McManaman left for the La Liga giant with little return for Liverpool.

"There's no doubt for me that Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah will be treated differently than Alexander-Arnold," Carragher continued. "When you think about it, Mo Salah is on £350-400 grand a week Liverpool signed him for £40m. Trent is probably on half that money, and he cost nothing. There is no banner in the Kop saying, 'Give Trent his dough' and there never will be one.

"I look at when Michael Owen left to go to Real Madrid, Steve McManaman did the same and not thought of the same — because when you're a local player, you're almost seen as if you should be almost grateful to play for the club. 'This is your club who do you think you are almost type of thing'. The Trent thing will start kicking off, and I can assure you it won't be fans saying, 'Give him what he wants'. It will be, 'Who does he think he is?."

Liverpool.com says: The Reds need a resolution to the three contract situations as quickly as possible so that everyone can stop talking about them. Going into the business end of the season, the last thing that Arne Slot will want is there still to be three major contracts that need sorting out, because the noise will only grow the longer it takes.