**Liverpool have to sell Mohamed Salah at the end of this season for a key reason, according to former Netherlands midfielder Rafael van der Vaart.**
The 33-year-old was again miles off the pace in the Reds’ dramatic 1-0 win away to Nottingham Forest on Sunday, being substituted in the second half.
Salah seemed shocked to be replaced, but it proved to be the right decision by Arne Slot, with Rio Ngumoha making a positive impact from the bench.
It has been a season of toil for the Egyptian overall, and speaking to _Sky Bet_ \[via [_Caught Offside_](https://www.caughtoffside.com/2026/02/22/liverpool-urged-to-let-key-player-leave/)\], Van der Vaart said this summer is time for him to leave, not least because he is proving to be a distraction:
_“When I look at Mohammed Salah and the position he plays on the pitch, he has lost that extra half yard and the pace is gone with age._
_“When you look at Virgil van Dijk, age is less important for a defender. There were games he performed not at his best and everyone writes him off, but over a full season, even at this age, he shows everyone how good he is. Having a big player and a big name (like Salah) is sometimes a problem for both the player and coach._
_“When you expect certain things as a coach from him, and he doesn’t do it, then of course you have the right to put him on the bench, but because it’s Mohamed Salah, this can cause a massive issue – in every press conference every question will be on Salah. It could be best for both sides if Salah goes somewhere else in the summer.”_
**A Mo Salah summer exit feels more likely by the week**
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Salah was superb in the FA Cup victory over Brighton, but he reverted to the norm of this season against Forest, not getting anything out of former Liverpool defender Neco Williams.
It is sad to see him look like such a shadow of the world-class legend who has lit up games endless times since 2017, but time catches up with every great player.
His lack of pace is now an issue, and his general use of the ball is more sloppy than it once was, and a summer exit increasingly feels like the right decision for everyone concerned.