There are a number of pressing questions for Liverpool to answer in this year’s summer transfer window.
The Reds are preparing to enter their first off-season without Jurgen Klopp at the helm since 2015. Things feel strange. Nevertheless, the show must go on and Liverpool have serious business to attend to.
Much of that business pertains to sorting out the futures of three of their key players. As Alan Shearer has said, the Reds have got themselves into a ‘dangerous’ position in regards to Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
All three have just one year left to run on their contracts at Anfield. Inevitably, each of them have been linked with moves away from the club.
There’s still time for Liverpool to sort things out though and Salah is claimed to be keen to stay at the club next season. According to journalist Graeme Bailey though, that may not be a sure thing.
How much could Liverpool sell Mohamed Salah for
Of the three players set to enter their final year, Salah had felt the most likely to leave this summer. There is arguably more peril over Alexander-Arnold’s situation, but things feel calm surrounding that.
After claims that Mo is now unlikely to leave though, there seemed real hope that the Egyptian will stick around. He very well may do. But speaking exclusively to Rousing The Kop, transfer expert Bailey has suggested that there could be more to things than meets the eye.
“I think Liverpool have been very clever, making it clear to the Saudis and making sure they realise he still has a value to them, which he does,” says the reporter.
“So if they do want him they’re going to have to pay for him. They’re going to have to make them a good enough offer. He’s not going to be just cast aside as part of this new process. If there’s no good deal out there he’ll stay and be part of the new regime under Arne Slot.
“I think it’s quite clever from that point of view from Liverpool,” Bailey adds. “They’re making sure his value is held up in the market and if the Saudis do want him, they’ll have to produce a big offer to get him.
“I think we’re looking in excess of £100m, but the thing with this is they’d be taking his contract as well so it’s not just about the fee. If Liverpool said we didn’t want to pay him off either for that last year of the contract, the Saudis may pay that. So there’s lots of other little details in it as well. I don’t know for sure but I don’t see Liverpool taking less than £100m at this point.”
How much should Liverpool accept for Mohamed Salah
We’re still of the opinion that Liverpool should keep Salah. But it appears that there could be a bit of smoke and mirrors going on.
If the Reds are to sell their No.11 then, it should be for more or less what Bailey is asserting.
Last year Liverpool turned down a bid that totalled £150m in order to keep Salah at the club. With one year less on his contract now and Mo another year older, it feels unlikely that the Reds could get that.
Some would perhaps argue that they’d be lucky to get £100m. Salah has quite visibly declined over recent months. With 12 months on his contract and turning 32, nine figures does seem steep.
But one thing we know about the Saudi clubs is that they have deep pockets. If Mo wants to go and a bid like this comes in, there’ll be a serious, serious decision to make.
