Liverpool star Mohamed Salah faces an uncertain future at Anfield with his contract set to expire at the end of the season
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Mohamed Salah of Liverpool looks on
Paul Merson has offered his view on Mohamed Salah's future at Liverpool
(Image: Getty Images)
Paul Merson believes Liverpool should not offer Mohamed Salah a new contract. The Egyptian has been at the centre of a storm this week after recent comments about his future at Anfield.
The 32-year-old has claimed he is yet to receive a formal offer from the Reds admitting he is "disappointed" not to have made a breakthrough over a new contract. Salah has shown few signs of slowing down having scored 12 goals across all competitions for Liverpool so far this season.
Arne Slot appears to be getting the best out of a player who struggled towards the end of Jurgen Klopp's tenure on Merseyside last season.
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But Merson does not think Salah should be offered a new deal. The former Arsenal player has shared his belief that Salah's age is a problem.
"Personally, I wouldn't give him it," he told Sky Sports. "I wouldn't give him it. I'm sorry, I wouldn't. I wouldn't give him a two-year contract on three-400 grand a week.
"He's 32, he's going to be 33 before the season finishes. That means he's going to still be playing at 35 years of age.
"I know people will say, 'if you got rid of him now, and then you've got to go and buy someone, they have to buy someone sooner or later, you're only kicking it down the road'.
"Sooner or later, you've got to do it. For me, with the fair play and everything, football changes. He's got unbelievable pace. He's an unbelievable player. But in three years, two years time, you can't get quicker."
"They're winning every week at the moment," Merson added. "So nothing's been said about Van Dijk [contract]. Nothing's been said about Trent Alexander-Arnold. Nothing's been said about Salah. They lose three on the trot and everybody's going to be jumping all over them.
"Why aren't they signed? But at the end of the day, it's not their fault. People upstairs, I don't know what they've done. In football terms, it's criminal how three of the best players to play for Liverpool for a long time, their contracts are running out all at the same time. It's unbelievable."