Liverpool is currently seeing the very best version of Mohamed Salah, and that's saying something. Unfortunately, his brilliance is coming against the backdrop of significant contract uncertainty, with talk of the Saudi Pro League bound to ramp up as he enters the final six months of his Anfield deal.

Frankly, it's strange that the Saudi top flight should even feature in the conversation, given that there's broad consensus that Salah is the best player in the world right now. Far more storied clubs should be queuing up to take him on a free transfer.

But in the modern game, even a great like Salah may struggle to get a marquee move in the summer he turns 33. Between the signing-on fee and the huge wage outlay, traditional powerhouses will balk at the expense of what the spreadsheets say is likely to be a relatively short-term move.

READ MORE: 'Jurgen Klopp warned me against leaving Liverpool - but I don't regret Anfield exit'

READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news as Virgil van Dijk verdict 'in next few days' amid Martin Zubimendi update

• Liverpool transfer news LIVE Salah contract update, Alexander-Arnold latest

• Newcastle sets record Alexander Isak price tag amid Liverpool and Arsenal transfer links

Liverpool is no different in this regard; in fact, with Michael Edwards back at FSG, it is even more brutal than many of its rivals when it comes to making assessments about players' peak ages. But as his incumbent club, deciding to let Salah go feels very different to merely deciding not to sign him, especially while he is busy spearheading a convincing title charge.

The hope is that a compromise can be reached. For Liverpool, that probably relies on a paucity of other options for Salah, who is otherwise in a completely dominant bargaining position thanks to his brilliance on the pitch.

In that regard, there has been a boost from the Saudi Pro League. Confirming the position heading into the next European transfer window, competition administrators have issued a statement clarifying that all 18 clubs currently have the maximum allowed number of overseas players aged 21 and over.

In other words, league rules would prevent any team from signing Salah without first terminating contracts, selling players or deregistering other squad members. A Financial Sustainability Committee is overseeing and enforcing this requirement.

Naturally, if the chance to sign Salah arises, this probably won't prove to be an insurmountable obstacle. But it points to the league's direction of travel, with a concerted effort being made not to become over-reliant on veterans from abroad.

At the very least, it might buy Liverpool a little more time. In theory, foreign clubs can negotiate over a free transfer from January, but the threat of Salah immediately agreeing a deal away from Anfield now seems somewhat remote.

Salah admitted after his maestro performance against West Ham that an extension is still far away, so it's extra time that Liverpool is clearly going to need if an agreement is to be reached. But with the forward's most likely suitors all unable to sign any more foreign players for the time being, the Reds have surely received something of a boost.

Liverpool.com says: Ultimately, if Salah gave a Saudi Pro League club the green light, it's hard to imagine that the league would not do everything in its power to make it happen. The bigger question is whether the Egyptian is really willing to go there, while he is demonstrably still at the peak of his powers.

This season, he could well be in the running for the Ballon d'Or, an honor that has so far eluded him. There are even more records within his sights if he decides to stay.

It is this, rather than money, which seems likely to be decisive in Salah's next move. But transfer limitations on Saudi clubs are certainly no bad thing as the contract stand-off reaches its climax.