Liverpool are poised to make a formal contract offer to Mohamed Salah in the near future, with club sources confirming that preliminary talks have been positive.
Salah’s future has become a major talking point in recent weeks, with the Egyptian forward becoming increasingly vocal about his stance on negotiations.
After Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City on Sunday, Salah made a telling remark to Sky Sports: “Honestly, that was in my head. This is, up until now, the last City game I play for Liverpool [at Anfield].”
Behind the scenes, sources close to Mohamed Salah have revealed that the 32-year-old is “exasperated” by the slow pace of talks with the club.
However, Liverpool are said to have held “positive” discussions with Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas Issa.
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, a formal contract offer is imminent.
In an update on Wednesday, Ornstein clarified that while Salah’s claim that the Reds had yet to make an offer “remained accurate as of Sunday,” the situation is expected to change soon.
This comes after Liverpool extended a new deal to Virgil van Dijk, whose contract also expires at the end of the season.
Talks are also ongoing with Trent Alexander-Arnold, although his situation differs slightly due to his age and the potential for a free transfer to Real Madrid next summer.
Salah and Van Dijk, despite their world-class status, are likely to face limited options.
Salah will turn 33 before his current contract expires, while Van Dijk will celebrate his 34th birthday just a week after his deal ends.
Though staying at Liverpool seems the most likely outcome for both players, negotiations over extended contracts are unlikely to be straightforward.
Salah, Van Dijk, and Alexander-Arnold are all expected to seek top-tier wages and long-term deals where possible.
However, as reported by Simon Hughes of The Athletic, Salah is open to a 12-month contract if that is what the negotiations eventually dictate.
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