Arsenal legend Freddie Ljungberg has slammed the Liverpool and Mohamed Salah contract saga as "bull****."
The Gunners' favourite even hit out at Sky pundit Jamie Carragher, claiming he was the one being "disrespectful" over Salah's future. Salah has stated that he feels "more out than in" at Anfield, with his current deal expiring at the end of the season and talks yet to begin.
Carragher labelled Salah "selfish" for speaking out on his future prior to matches against Real Madrid and Manchester City which were both won by the Reds. Ljungberg believes Liverpool should be transparent if they don't want to keep Salah, rather than dragging out the situation.
Speaking on Swedish TV, Ljungberg said: "I think that it is very disrespectful on the part of the club. Not as Jamie Carragher is trying to make it out to be - that it is Mo Salah who is disrespectful.
"Sorry, but that's bull****. If you have a player of that calibre as Salah, if you don't want to extend with him and he wants to leave - then tell him.
Ljungberg argued that Salah is speaking out to pressure the club into offering him a new contract, as he wants to stay at Liverpool. The comments came after Salah played a key role in Liverpool's win over City, setting up the opening goal and scoring the second from the penalty spot.
Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports, praised Salah and Virgil van Dijk as two of Liverpool's greatest. "I have no problem with Salah and Van Dijk," he insisted.
"They are two of the greatest for Liverpool. I'm not saying he shouldn't get a two-year deal, I'm not saying he shouldn't get big money.
"He's on big money now and rightly so, he's one of the best players in the world. But this idea of 'give him what he wants', this club is not built on giving people what they want. That's where the success of the club has come from - being ahead of the game.
Arsenal legend Freddie Ljungberg
Arsenal legend Freddie Ljungberg
"Buying Mo Salah for £40million when no-one else in the Premier League looked at him because they were ahead of the game in terms of the data. So I'm just saying Liverpool, keep doing what you are doing.
"Don't be giving someone a three or four year deal. If you normally give someone an extra year, no, you move the dial for a Salah or Van Dijk. There's no problem with that.
"All I'm asking for is Mo Salah after every game he scores the goal and talks about his situation. Virgil van Dijk's in exactly the same situation and is handling it brilliant. The club is always more important than the individual."
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