Liverpool have been warned against extending Mohamed Salah's contract for one key reason.
Salah is out of contract at the end of the season and could leave Anfield on a free transfer this summer, but he remains a key player under new boss Arne Slot. He has scored 21 goals and provided 17 assists in just 27 games in all competitions so far.
In fact, no other footballer in all of Europe has made more goal contributions for his club than Salah has for Liverpool this season. However, former Premier League striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes Liverpool should not renew Salah's contract due to his age.
The Egyptian turns 33 this summer and Hasselbaink claims that letting Salah leave for free at the end of the season is the “best thing for Liverpool”. He told BetMGM: “There are not many players like Salah who will play as well as him in the last year of their contract.
“Obviously he can put aside all the distractions and perform like he has always been. I think it really shows how mentally strong he is. If I am the manager of Liverpool, I obviously want all three of Salah's players, Keep Virgil and Vigil.” van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“If I'm the owner and I'm wearing a business hat, I would let Salah go because of his age. You'd have to pay him mega money and I just don't think you can give a three to a player of his age.” From a business perspective it is not sustainable and the best thing for Liverpool is to see him go.
Salah is not the only Liverpool star to see his contract expire, with the futures of Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold also yet to be determined. Hasselbaink believes Liverpool should keep them both, but Real Madrid's interest in the latter means he could still leave.
“I think Van Dijk will stay because you can get three more good years out of him as a central defender,” Hasselbaink said. “As for Trent, it all depends on what he really wants and where he sees his career going.
“Do you just dream of being a Liverpool player or do you want to see how good you can be in another country and another culture? Regardless of whether he leaves, he will go down as a Liverpool legend. “
“Ian Rush was viewed that way and he went on to play for Juventus, so I don't think Trent's move should take anything away from what he did at Anfield. He puts on that Liverpool shirt with pride and gives his best, so we have to do that.” I won't criticize him if he goes to Madrid. For all we know, he might be back!'
Comments