Mohamed Salah's stellar form this season has only highlighted his crucial role at Liverpool. The Egyptian ace has been instrumental in propelling the Reds to the top of the table, sharing the lead in the goalscoring charts with Erling Haaland, both netting 13 times.
Salah, along with key first-team players Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, sees his contract expire this summer. Liverpool has initiated talks with all three, but the outcome is still uncertain.
There will be significant interest in the trio, offering them plenty of choices if they decide to become free agents. At 32, Salah was thought to be beyond the age bracket that many of Europe's top clubs who could afford his wages were targeting.
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Real Madrid is focusing elsewhere this summer, with Alexander-Arnold reportedly on their radar, while clubs like Paris Saint-Germain are in a different position than they were three years ago. PSG's owners, QSI, are contemplating their long-term future in Paris, and the era of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar leading the attack has ended, with the focus now shifting to younger stars.
It's unlikely that Bayern Munich will join the race, nor would Salah probably swap Liverpool for another Premier League team. This has led to speculation that the cash-rich Saudi Arabian Premier League, given last year's interest from Al-Ittihad in Salah, could be his most likely destination.
Barcelona's financial struggles, worsened by the pandemic, have seen them fall out of contention for big-money signings in recent years. The club is currently grappling with the challenge of finding additional funds to register Dani Olmo for the upcoming season, after their special dispensation to use the wages of long-term injured players to register him last season via La Liga's financial controls expired.
According to various Spanish media reports over the past few months, Barcelona and its president Joan Laporta have been intrigued by Salah's potential availability as a free agent. They're eager to make a significant signing within their budgetary constraints, as they need on-field success to aid their financial recovery.
Joan Laporta of FC Barcelona
However, given their financial difficulties, this seems unlikely. Nevertheless, Barcelona, who have recently utilized several economic strategies including selling stadium naming rights and launching their BarcaVision channel, are considering another move that could allow them to bolster their squad this summer.
Barcelona is reportedly contemplating selling the rights to their VIP seating at the Spotify Nou Camp for the next two decades, a move that could potentially bring in around $210m (£165.5m). This significant financial boost would give them the flexibility to make some big moves in the transfer market.
With Barca fans eager to see their club compete with rivals Real Madrid, who have recently signed stars like Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, this cash injection could be used to secure a high-profile signing that would not only enhance their competitive edge but also boost their marketing efforts in other regions. Meanwhile, Liverpool remain in a strong position regarding Salah's future, as the Egyptian star is believed to be keen on extending his stay at Anfield, even if it's just for another year.
However, they may need to keep an eye out for unexpected competitors ready to swoop in for Salah this summer, which could speed up the Reds' negotiations to secure a deal.