Paul Merson has hinted at a new deal for Mohamed Salah as reports suggest the Liverpool star may have reached a compromise at Anfield.
Salah’s contract standoff has been well documented in recent weeks, with the Egyptian having expressed his disappointment at the lack of an offer from the club while also suggesting he is “more out than in”.
According to the Sunday Mirror though, there has been a breakthrough in the discussions, with Salah now said to be on the verge of signing a two-year deal after reaching a compromise with Liverpool, with the two parties having been previously been far apart on the length of the extension.
Strangely enough, the first hints of that deal arrived from the unlikely source that is former Arsenal midfielder Merson. The Sky Sports pundit revealed what he had heard about Salah’s potential new deal shortly before the latest reports emerged.
“We’re only hearing it on the grapevine, but we’re hearing two years with a year option to Mo Salah,” Merson told Sky Sports.
“That’s a long time. I’d give him 300-400 grand a week now. Of course, I would today because he’s doing the business. I’m his biggest fan. I think he’s world-class.”
As big a fan as Merson is, he did sound a word of warning to Liverpool about the new deal, suggesting that the Reds might be taking a big gamble by offering what could potentially become a three-year extension to Salah.
Mohamed Salah is reportedly on the verge of signing a new contract at Liverpool
Mohamed Salah is reportedly on the verge of signing a new contract at Liverpool (Image: Getty Images)
“I’ll say he gets in every team in the world. He’s a winger and he’s the top scorer in the Premier League. It’s just absolutely amazing the numbers he puts up week in, week out, year in, year out.
“But in two-and-a-half years’ time, that’s a lot of money to be giving someone if they’re not doing the business then.”
Liverpool.com says: Liverpool and FSG will be well aware of the potential pitfalls of offering a player over 30 anything more than an extra year. After all, the Reds’ owners’ reluctance to do just that is said to have been the main sticking point in the contract standoff with Salah.
The Egyptian is not like any other player though, and if what Merson has heard is correct, Liverpool has taken the best option. Having the option of an extra year gives the club a chance to re-evaluate before deciding whether to turn it into a three-year stay.
If there are signs of deterioration after a year or so of the new deal, the Reds give themselves a chance to offload Salah, and you can guarantee there will still be interest from Saudi Arabia at that point. The 32-year-old is showing little sign of slowing down though, so hopefully Liverpool might end up taking up that option of an extra year.