Salah comment suggests Liverpool contract talks are underway as ‘hint’ spotted

Contract negotiations between Liverpool and Mohamed Salah are already underway, claims Alan Shearer.

The Newcastle legend believes Salah's explosive comments, made after Liverpool's clash with Southampton on Sunday, were proof that talks between player and club had indeed begun, but the two sides are still a long way from reaching an agreement. After scoring twice in a 3-2 win over the Saints, Salah, whose contract expires at the end of the season, told reporters he had not received an extension offer and was subsequently moving a lot closer to leaving the club was. then stay.

Speaking to Betfair, Shearer said he thought Salah's comments were tactical and likely his agent's idea. He also said that, judging by the Egyptian's choice of words, negotiations have actually been going on for some time.

“There is no doubt that Mo Salah was forced to say what he said this weekend by his agent in an attempt to put pressure on the football club,” the 54-year-old said. “It was noticeable that he said 'no contract had been offered to him'. He didn't say there were no talks going on. Those are two different things, I think.

“He looked after himself and his agent told him to do that, there's no doubt about that because he rarely stops in the media area after matches. I had no problem with what Mo did. If clubs want to win away from you, they go from you and have no empathy or sympathy for you, so he took care of his situation.”

Despite a positive reception from the Anfield faithful during Liverpool's 2-0 Champions League win over Real Madrid on Wednesday night, Salah's comments attracted widespread criticism, particularly from Reds legend Jamie Carragher. The former defender called Salah 'selfish' for making the matter public, especially at such a crucial time in the season, with matches against Madrid and Manchester City looming.

However, Shearer defended Salah's right to “take care of himself”, insisting that both the player and the club had reason to feel deeply affected. “I know Liverpool are chasing a title, but they have to look after themselves too. And if the club has to look after themselves, they will too. It works both ways,” he said.

“He is a Premier League great, there is no doubt about that. Whatever happens to him, whether he stays or goes, he will be seen as an icon of the Premier League. The number of times he has saved Liverpool the way he has weekend again. When If you have him in your team, you always have a chance.”

Salah, 32, reportedly earns £350,000 a week at Liverpool, making him one of the highest-paid footballers in the world. While the details of his contract requirements are not known, it is clear that Liverpool are reluctant to hand an equally lucrative multi-year deal to a man who will turn 33 at the start of next season.

That said, the former Chelsea striker shows little sign of slowing down. He has scored ten goals in twelve Premier League matches so far this season, helping Arne Slot's side gain an eight-point lead at the top of the table.

Salah isn't the only Liverpool superstar entering the final few months of his contract. Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold find themselves in identical positions, with contract negotiations for both players currently non-existent (at least publicly).

Whether the continued uncertainty surrounding the future of the aforementioned trio will impact Liverpool's increasingly promising title challenge remains to be seen, but it doesn't appear to be doing much damage at the moment. Next up is a top-flight clash with Pep Guardiola's City team, who have lost five of their last six games in all competitions.

A win would put the Reds 11 points clear of the defending champions, and Slot's men will be keen to do so given the club's strong performance against City at Anfield. Since 2016, Liverpool have only lost at home to City in an 11-match series. Fellow title rivals Arsenal travel to West Ham on Saturday evening.