Liverpool boss Arne Slot wants Mohamed Salah to stay at Anfield and sign a new deal rather than go to Saudi Arabia.
Salah is out of contract in June and with his future uncertain the Saudi Pro League interest has grown.
Saudi Arabia’s sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal spoke about the interest in Salah on Piers Morgan Uncensored on YouTube. When asked if Salah was the “big prize” for Saudi football he didn’t beat around the bush.
“Definitely, if he ticks all the boxes for us we’d love to have him,” he said. “We feel like we are one with the Egyptians, from our culture and our history and so on.”
The 32-year-old forward, who is top of the Premier League scoring charts with 19 goals, said in December that contract talks with Liverpool were a long way off. That’s only added to the speculation.
Speaking before the Bournemouth game Slot said the club want to keep Salah beyond this season.
He acknowledged the Saudi interest and other clubs but hopes Salah will make the right decision for himself—and for Liverpool.
“We want him to sign, of course, that’s clear, but I’m not surprised Saudi wants him. I’m not surprised if other countries want him either.
“He’s old and wise enough, he’s done so many smart things in his career he will make the right decision for himself and hopefully for us as well.”
“He’s done so well without my advice for so long, so he can probably keep doing what’s best for him without my advice,” he added. “But my advice to him would be different from that.”
Contract Woes for Liverpool
Salah isn’t the only big Liverpool player out of contract at the end of the season. Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are too.
Their departures would be a big problem for Liverpool to stay on top in England.
He wouldn’t comment on contract talks. “I would be daft not to speak to my players about the future.”
Liverpool face Bournemouth next but for now the focus is on the pitch.
But with Salah’s contract up in the air and Saudi interest in the offing, the next few months will be big.
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