Mohamed Salah contract talks at Liverpool out of his hands

Mohamed Salah has provided a degree of clarity regarding his current contract situation with Liverpool in an interview with GQ Magazine.

The Egypt international’s current deal is set to expire in the summer of 2023, after signing an improved 2-year extension in 2018 reported to be in the region of £200,000 per week.

When arriving from Roma for a fee thought to be nearing £37million, eyebrows were raised as to whether Liverpool were foolish to invest in a player that had already been seen to fail in the English top-flight.

A Premier League and Champions League winner’s medal later, along with countless personal accolades, the signing will go down in the history books as a bargain for the ages.

"“I want to stay, but it’s not in my hands. It’s in their hands. They know what I want. I’m not asking for crazy stuff,” Salah said in a tell-all interview with GQ."

The first four words of that statement will be read by thousands of Liverpool supporters with a sigh of relief, but what follows displays that the saga isn’t as clear-cut as Salah’s immediate inclination.

"“The thing is when you ask for something and they show you they can give you something, because they appreciate what you did for the club,” he added.“I’ve been here for my fifth year now. I know the club very well. I love the fans. The fans love me.“But with the administration, they have [been] told the situation. It’s in their hands.”"

For the Liverpool faithful, the whispers surrounding their star-man’s contract decision have become a taboo subject of sorts, as life without him, well it doesn’t bear thinking about.

So what’s taking so long?

As Salah, who is currently in Cameroon for the African Cup of Nations, nears his 30th birthday later in the year, this contract is viewed as the most important of his career.

If the former Chelsea man were to sign for an additional four years for example, that would take him into his mid-thirties, seeing his value drop not only in the transfer market but in respects to his potential earning power.

Although Salah protests, he’s “not asking for crazy stuff,” it is likely he will be looking to significantly improve on his current deal in order to set himself up prior to retirement.

As footballers go, there aren’t many more deserved of a raise than Salah and although those in charge of the Merseyside club will likely echo this train of thought, they aren’t blessed with the freedom of finances some of their rivals can boast.

When comparing Salah’s current deal with counterparts elsewhere, it is fairly modest especially considering the heights he has reached upon returning to the UK.

While this saga is far from being resolved, the player’s desire to stay put can and should give supporters piece of mind for now, but we will be sure to keep you updated every step of the way.