Jamie Carragher has urged Liverpool‘s hierarchy to strike terms with Mohamed Salah over a contract extension at Anfield, with the Reds legend insisting that supporters would struggle to forgive the club’s owners if the Egyptian leaves.
The Egypt international has entered the final 18 months of a deal worth more than £200,000 a week but there is no sign at present of him agreeing new terms.
On Thursday night, Salah’s absence was emphasised as Liverpool struggled to find the net against 10-man Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg, being held to a 0-0 draw at Anfield.
Jamie Carragher has urged Liverpool’s hierarchy to strike fresh terms with Mohamed Salah
And Carragher believes that Liverpool must agree a deal with the free-scoring attacker ‘sooner rather than later’, admitting that talks between the two parties are ‘dragging on’.
‘This talk of Salah’s contract will now probably intensify even more, because when he isn’t there you can see the effect that has,’ he said on Sky Sports. ‘You should be wary as a Liverpool supporter that this is dragging on.
‘There are other big players at Liverpool that have signed contracts in the last few months, you think of the goalkeeper, you think of Trent, Virgil van Dijk – huge players.
‘Salah will want to be paid as any top player in the Premier League and world football, and why shouldn’t he? He deserves that performance. We’re talking about one of the best players in the world.’
The Egypt international’s contract is due to expire in 18 months and he is in talks with the club
Salah’s absence was dearly felt by Liverpool during their 0-0 draw with Arsenal at Anfield
The former defender added that Liverpool fans may struggle to forgive the club’s owners if they fail to tie Salah down to fresh terms, resulting in his departure from Merseyside in a year and a half.
‘For me, I would want that done as quickly as possible. It’s not a case of give him what he wants. But Liverpool Football Club and the owners, I don’t think they’d be forgiven if Mo Salah left this club in the summer or in 18 months’ time.
‘He’s a Liverpool legend, one of the greatest players the club has ever had, and it needs to be sorted sooner rather than later.’
Salah’s future has been a persistent topic of conversation since the beginning of the campaign and the subject has taken on even greater importance owing to his outstanding form — he leads the Premier League’s goals and assists standings this season.
Liverpool legend Carragher said fans may struggle to forgive the club if Salah departs
Carragher fears talks are ‘dragging on’ and it needs to be wrapped up ‘sooner rather than later’
The 29-year-old Egyptian would be inundated with offers if it reaches the stage where he can walk away from Anfield as a free agent. He would be able to talk to clubs around Europe 12 months from now.
Though Salah has stressed he has no desire to move, he explained in a wide-ranging interview with GQ this week that the next move is purely up to Liverpool’s administrators, headed by Michael Edwards, the club’s outgoing sporting director, and Mike Gordon, the president of Fenway Sports Group.
‘I want to stay but it’s not in my hands, it’s in their hands,’ said Salah. ‘They know what I want. I’m not asking for crazy stuff. 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.
‘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.’
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