The contract standoff between Liverpool and Mo Salah might be tense, but it doesn't seem to be stressing the Egyptian out one bit. Salah has just five months left on his current deal and will leave Anfield for nothing in the summer if he doesn't agree an extension.

Where he might go next one can only speculate, though a move to the Saudi Pro League looks likeliest if he does move on. Interestingly last month, Gary Lineker swung by Liverpool's training ground to interview Arne Slot, and ended up bumping into Salah, who couldn't help but make light of the ongoing saga surrounding his future.

"He's a lovely guy," Lineker said about Salah on The Rest Is Football podcast. "I spent 10 minutes with him when I went to visit Arne Slot."

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Co-host Alan Shearer asked: "Did you not get it out of him whether he's staying or going or not?" Lineker replied: "I didn't, no. He was just being funny.

"He asked me, 'how old were you when you finished?' And I said, 'well, English football I finished when I was 32 and then I went to play in Japan for a couple of years'.

"And he went, 'ahh, you went for the money did you?' And I said, 'well yeah I suppose so'. And he went, '...Yeah, I might do the same'. He [then] winked at the press guy that was there. It was just a joke. But he has got that cheeky sense of humour."

Although a summer departure remains very possible, Liverpool fans are still holding out hope that Salah will agree to extend his stay on Merseyside. The uncertainty surrounding his future hasn't been affecting his form at all, with the 32-year-old netting 25 times in all competitions so far this season – equalling last season's tally already.

His goals have helped fire Liverpool to the top of the table, both domestically and continentally. The Reds are six points clear of second-placed Arsenal in the Premier League following Saturday's 2-0 win at Bournemouth thanks to a Salah brace. And Liverpool could extend their lead to nine if they win their game in hand against Everton next Wednesday.

They also finished top of the Champions League group phase table, with seven wins from their eight matches in the competition. In the last 16, they'll face either PSG, Brest, Monaco or Benfica, depending on both the results of the play-offs as well as the draw for the next round.

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Salah's situation isn't a unique one at Anfield, though. Both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk have less than six months remaining on their respective contracts.

Liverpool could still lose all three at the end of the season for nothing if extensions aren't negotiated and penned.

Real Madrid are confident of landing Alexander-Arnold, with the defender reportedly verbally agreeing to a move to the Bernabeu in recent weeks. Van Dijk, meanwhile, is being tipped to stay at Anfield, but a new contract is yet to be finalised.