Mohamed Salah has been accused of “holding Liverpool to a huge ransom” following his latest comments about his future.
The forward is one of three key players who could leave Liverpool on a free transfer next summer, with Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold all out of contract at the end of the season. He has been crucial to Liverpool's Premier League title bid, scoring 17 goals and providing 13 assists in 18 games.
However, he recently stated that talks on a new deal are still “far from any progress.” Asked if this season would be his last at Liverpool, Salah told Sky Sports: “So far, yes. It's been the last six months.
“There's no progress there. We're a long way from any progress. So we just have to wait and see. The thing in my head is, if this is the last six months, what do you want to see in the future? Do you want to look back and say that I was worried or stressed about the contract?
“Or do you just want to say I had an incredible season? That's in my head. If I ever feel distractions, I remind myself that I want to look back and say I had an incredible season. That's what I want doing.” .”
Former Premier League midfielder Craig Burley believes Salah's comments have put Liverpool in a “very difficult scenario financially” as his form means they cannot afford to lose him. “Liverpool executives are on the floor at the moment,” Burley told ESPN.
“They're almost in tears because they made this guy probably the most fantastic offer and he ran them into the ground. He doesn't have to say anything. There's a big game this weekend – he could have had his reps say yes or no behind the scenes.
“He doesn't serve the ball back over the net to Liverpool, he throws up a hundred balls and serves an ace with each one. He's holding Liverpool to a huge ransom at the moment, so this is a very difficult scenario financially.”
It remains to be seen whether Salah will extend his stay at Anfield, but Liverpool boss Arne Slot is hopeful he will stay. “Every time we need Mo Salah, he scores a goal. We hope and expect that he can keep this up for a long time,” Slot admitted last month.
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