Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool career might not be over after all. The Egyptian waved goodbye to the Anfield faithful last week after an illustrious nine-year stint with the Reds.
It was an emotional farewell, not least because it arrived a year earlier than expected, as the player’s camp and the club agreed to end Salah’s contract early. Salah’s deal was set to expire at the end of the 2026/27 season, but the legendary winger is on the move earlier than expected.
At least, that’s what everybody thought. A report from The Athletic suggested that a change of manager could prompt Salah into a rethink, as the ex-Chelsea ace has butted heads with Arne Slot on several occasions. Salah went public with criticism for the Dutchman in December, with some claims that a move in the January transfer window was a possibility.
He stuck around until the end of the season, but released another statement criticising the coaching team, hinting Slot wasn’t setting his team up in the way a Liverpool manager ought to have. The report claims that before Salah’s announcement, he hadn’t given up on the idea of playing out the final year of his contract.
While the chances of a U-turn at this stage remain unlikely, the decision to sack Slot could spark a rethink. Salah hasn’t been linked to any big clubs in England or Europe, with a move to Saudi Arabia or the United States topping the odds lists as things stand.
Liverpool are expected to appoint Andoni Iraola as Slot’s replacement, with the Spanish coach having enjoyed an impressive three-year stint at Bournemouth. It’s likely Liverpool will be linked with players Iraola had success with at Bournemouth, including Alex Scott and Eli Junior Kroupi.
Announcing the news of Slot’s departure, the Merseysiders said: "That this was a difficult decision for us to make as a club goes without saying. The contribution Arne has made to Liverpool FC in the time that he has been with us has been significant, meaningful and - most importantly of all to supporters and ourselves - successful.
"As such, our appreciation for everything he has achieved could not be greater, particularly as it was underpinned by a work ethic, a diligence and a level of expertise which further underlined our view that he is a leader in his field.
"From the moment that we first encountered Arne, it was immediately clear that he is an individual who does not merely accept responsibility, he embraces it."