A former Liverpool executive has offered insight into why Mohamed Salah is on course to leave the club on a free transfer, with ongoing uncertainty surrounding the forward’s contract continuing to generate discussion.
Salah’s future has been a major talking point in recent months, particularly since he announced his departure at the end of the season.
According to former Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow, situations like this often arise due to a combination of financial planning and long-term squad strategy.
Clubs must balance the value of keeping elite players with the potential risks associated with offering lengthy and expensive contracts, especially when those players are approaching the later stages of their peak years.
Mohamed Salah ?? @LFC
The Egyptian will leave the place he has called home for nine seasons at the end of the 2025/26 campaign pic.twitter.com/H735eymfBB
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 24, 2026
Salah has been central to Liverpool’s success throughout his time at the club, consistently delivering goals, assists, and match-winning performances. His ability to perform at the highest level has made him one of the most recognizable figures in European football, meaning any decision regarding his future carries significant weight both on and off the pitch.
Why Liverpool are happy to let Mo Salah leave for free
The former official explained that, in some cases, allowing a player to run down their contract can be a calculated decision rather than an oversight.
Purslow said: “It ignores the cold, hard facts of the two key criteria here in elite footballer recruitment. One: salary. Two: age and profile. And there are a tiny, tiny number of mega star footballers who have moved for large transfer fees in their mid 30s.
“Cristiano Ronaldo is one good example. And I think people hoped that Salah would be another Ronaldo. But there is another factor at large here. It’s quite clear to me that the preferred and favoured destination in that speculation that you were part of was Saudi.
“There’s been a change of emphasis. The era where they’ve been buying players over 30 for big transfer fees, bailing out a number of clubs in Europe, particularly Premier League clubs from FFP dilemmas by buying 30, 31, 32-year-old players for £20 million.
“It’s been obvious to me for some time that that era is behind.”
Mohamed Salah in the Premier League with @LFC ?
? 310 Appearances
?? 189 Goals
? 92 Assists
? 7 Player of the Months
? 4 Golden Boots
? 2 Playmaker awards
? 2 Player of Seasons
? 2 Premier League titles
The Egyptian King ? pic.twitter.com/nnskwW4e7m
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 24, 2026
At the same time, the possibility of Salah leaving on a free transfer could create opportunities for other clubs to pursue him without paying a transfer fee.
From Liverpool’s perspective, the situation highlights the delicate balance required when managing high-profile contracts. Decisions must consider both sporting performance and financial sustainability, especially as the club plans for the next phase of its squad development.