Liverpool “fully intend” to keep hold of Mohamed Salah beyond the January transfer window, with a positive update regarding his future being offered by a senior journalist.
Salah is now off to the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, but doubts remain over whether the 2-0 win over Brighton was his final Reds appearance.
Speaking to NBC Sports, the reliable David Ornstein has claimed that Liverpool want to retain his services, rather than sell him next month.
“As I understand it, Liverpool fully intend to keep Mo Salah,” Ornstein said.
“They want him to remain, not only in the January transfer window but beyond, until at least the end of the season.
“He’s under contract until the summer of 2027 and Liverpool feel that they showed their intentions very clearly by renewing him at great expense back in May.
“I think their view would be this has been brought about by Salah and his desire to be guaranteed regular football, and that’s not something that any club, certainly not Liverpool, despite the legendary status of Salah, are going to be willing to deliver.
“And that seems to be at the heart of this, at the centre of discussions, which Arne Slot said began before Leeds.
“So this wasn’t the great shock to Liverpool that some have made out – what was surprising was that he spoke out after Leeds and that forced them to act.
“However, they still feel the ball is in his court to decide what he wants to do here.
“If he really does want to go, is he going to come forward with some proposals?”
Summer exit the best outcome for Liverpool and Mo Salah?
Few Liverpool fans will want to see Salah depart in this manner, in terms of its abrupt nature, so this is a positive update.
The 33-year-old isn’t quite the player he was, and his form this season has been poor, but he still has much to offer after AFCON.
A summer exit does arguably feel like the best outcome for all parties, however, allowing Liverpool to cash in on Salah.
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If Arne Slot can’t guarantee regular starts as age catches up with the Egyptian, he may feel that it is the right time to move on.
A January departure would be a hollow way for one of the best-ever Liverpool careers to end, and hopefully, the clear-the-air talks with Slot have helped matters.
Salah may not have made up his mind yet, with his focus on international commitments, but the Reds have seemingly made their stance clear.