Mohamed Salah is out of contract at the end of the season with Liverpool yet to come to an agreement with the attacker over fresh terms
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Mo Salah's contract situation at Liverpool remains up in the air(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
Michael Owen has voiced his opinion that Liverpool need to make an exception in their contract policy to ensure Mohamed Salah remains at the club. The Egyptian forward's current deal is set to expire at the end of the season, potentially ending his eight-year stint with the Reds unless a new agreement is reached.
Salah could leave the Premier League leaders, following what might be considered his finest season, with an impressive tally of 32 goals and 22 assists in 43 appearances across all competitions.
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Owen, who began his own career with an eight-year spell at Anfield, is convinced that the 32-year-old is keen to continue with Liverpool, but insists that the club's management must offer Salah a special deal.
"Mo Salah's an interesting one. I think Mo Salah wants to stay, in fact I'm pretty sure he wants to stay," Owen commented on talkSPORT. "I think Liverpool are going to have to bend the rules slightly, they might say, 'oh right, only two years for players of this age'.
"But he's no normal player, he's as fit as a flea, he's dedicated, he lives in the gym, he's so professional. You can't tell me that he's not going to be at the same level in three, four years. I mean, he's just unbelievable. So I would bend the rules, I would give him the contract, the length of contract," reports the Mirror.
"I'm also not that type of person, a fan that says, 'just give him what he wants, he's brilliant, we'll win the league with him'. No, because you can't put your club at risk, but I don't think it's got to that stage.
"To replace him, it's going to cost an awful lot more, you're not going to pay a transfer fee for him. So I would do whatever it takes to keep him, and I think he wants to stay, but sources tell me that they're still quite a way apart."
In the event that Salah, who reportedly earns upwards of £300k-a-week, departs Anfield come summer, Owen has identified Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo as a potential successor, while also suggesting Liverpool should make a move for Newcastle's Alexander Isak.
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"I think if he (Salah) was to go, Liverpool would look to replace him or find another attacking player, because I think Darwin Nunez will probably go as well," he said. "There's lots of alternatives out there but no-one can replace Mo Salah. There's no-one out there that is going to get his numbers. There's been a few rumours lately about different players.
"Alexander Isak would just be an incredible move if Liverpool could get him, but I'm sure virtually every team wants him and Newcastle are desperate to keep hold of him, so that would be an interesting one.
"I like Antoine Semenyo at Bournemouth, who plays in the same position as Salah. I like him, a younger version, but definitely got energy, scoring capabilities and a good player."