Soccer
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said that he wants Mohamed Salah to extend his contract with the Reds despite him being linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League.
Salah’s current deal is set to run out at the end of the ongoing campaign and the Egypt international said at the start of January that it is his last season with the club with “no progress” in talks for an extension.
And Slot was asked about Saudi Arabia sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal’s comments that he would “love” to see Salah play for a club in the Saudi top flight.
“It would be a surprise if anyone said they didn’t want Mo Salah,” Slot said ahead of the Premier League leaders’ meeting with Bournemouth on Saturday.
“He has done so well for so many years, that everyone probably wants him.
“He has done so well without my advice so he can keep doing what is best for his career, even without my advice. My advice to him would be different to the one [of Al Faisal].
“Everybody wants him, including us. We of course want him to extend as well. That is clear.”
A special Salah showing on the south coast #BOULIV ’18 pic.twitter.com/jFLmYWyLlV
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 31, 2025
Salah has registered 19 goals and 13 assists in just 22 Premier League appearances during Slot’s first season at Liverpool after replacing previous boss Jurgen Klopp.
The Egyptian is only one goal away from his fifth 20-goal season in the Premier League. Only Alan Shearer (seven times), Thierry Henry (five), Sergio Agüero (six) and Harry Kane (six) have achieved more.
Salah, who scored in the 4-1 win against Ipswich Town last time out, is also only one goal (176) behind Frank Lampard (177) among the all-time Premier League top scorers.
Shearer (260), Kane (213), Wayne Rooney (208), Andy Cole (187), Aguero (184) are the other players in front of him in the list.
“I am not surprised someone wants him. He has done so many smart things in his career, so he will make the right decision for himself and hopefully for us as well,” Slot added.
Salah joined the Merseyside club in 2017 from Roma and has also previously played for Basel, Chelsea and Fiorentina.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold are also out of contract this summer.
“Of course. I speak with these players, not every day like [sporting director] Richard [Hughes] but quite a lot,” Slot said.
“It would be ridiculous if in all those times we have not spoken about the future. Of course we do. But that’s not something I’m going to discuss [with the media]. It is not only with the three that are out of contract, you also talk about the future with other players as well. It is a non-stop process talking to your players.”
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