Jamie Carragher expects Mohamed Salah to eventually sign a new Liverpool deal - as there are "not too many options" out there for the Kop's Egyptian king.
Despite the uncertainty over his future, with just a few months left on his current contract, Salah has been in fine form for Liverpool this season. The Egyptian has top-scored for the club, with his match-winning penalty away to Girona on Tuesday taking him up to 16 goals in all competitions.
There has previously been interest in Saudi Arabia as the former Roma star weight up his future, but potential suitors Paris Saint-Germain have distanced themselves from a move. PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said he has respect for the Liverpool star, but stressed his club have not spoken to Salah over a move.
Liverpool's leading man drew criticism from Carragher over suggesting he was "more out than in" when it came to signing a contract extension. That new deal now looks closer than ever, but Carragher has questions about the forward's reasons for renewing.
"I love Mo Salah, he’s one of the best players in the world, but the reason I say [I don't think will have options' is because of his age," Carragher said on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet. "When you’re on that type of money and you’re talking about getting a raise – a raise isn’t 10 or 20 grand a week.
"How many attackers do Real Madrid have, Barcelona are in dire straits financially, PSG are nowhere near the team Liverpool are – there are only four or five teams that can realistically win the Champions League and Liverpool are one of them. He will stay as I’m not sure there are too many options. He’s not ready to go to Saudi [Arabia] – he can do that in three years’ time. Salah is that driven as a footballer to win the record of most goals – or whatever that may be for Liverpool.”
Carragher also urged more transparency from the forward. “[Mohamed Salah] is reportedly on about £350,000 to £400,000 a week, and good luck to him, he deserves it, he’s one of the best players in the world and should be paid that. But if you come out and say that the club haven’t done this and the club haven’t done that, then give us all [the story] and we can then we can decide [what side we’re on]," he added.
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“When you talk about letting a player get to this stage of their career, we all get to that stage when you’re 32 or 33, and no one comes to you with 18 months to go talking about a new deal. My point is that we know they’re in discussions, he did this two years ago where he tried to put pressure on the club.
"He’s a world-renowned superstar and I’m desperate for him to stay, but I’m looking at it from the club’s point of view where we don’t know who’s in the right or wrong. If you want to put something out there that the club haven’t offered you a contract, then tell us what you want, be transparent and we can then all pick sides."
Carragher's fellow pundit Roy Keane suggested the real challenge for Salah is continuing to deliver on the pitch. For now, his goals and assists have helped Arne Slot's team thrive domestically and in Europe, and he's only nine goals shy of his tally from the whole of last season.
"The bottom line is you have to go out and perform every week, and all that other stuff will fall into place," Keane said. "This is a good test for Salah’s character. It will only get worse the longer it goes on, but if Liverpool keep winning football matches and he is playing well, it will all sort itself out.”
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