Dan Bardell: Liverpool will do everything to prevent ‘unthinkable’ Mohamed Salah outcome
Dan Bardell believes Liverpool will do everything in their power to extend the contract of forward Mohamed Salah.
The 32-year-old sent shockwaves across football revealing he views this season as his last at the club after the 3-0 win against Manchester United last weekend.
Speaking exclusively to Liverpool News, Sky Sports pundit Bardell said that Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Salah have reminded the Reds of their quality in the final year of their contracts, with particular emphasis on the impact of the Egyptian this season.
“I think all three of the players have given a reminder to the club what it is they offer and how good they are,” Bardell said. “Salah in particular – there’s no signs of him slowing down. He still looks raring to go; he still looks very very fit and still he’s one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League.
“That isn’t going to just disappear over the next two or so years and if Salah wants to stay, you know a lot of people have anticipated that he might want to go to Saudi in at some point in the near future.
“But if he wants to stay and I know he’s on a big wage but thinking of Liverpool without him at the moment does seem unthinkable.
“So I think the way he’s started the season, if in the next seven or eight games this continues [his form] up to the next international break, Liverpool will do everything they can to try and get him to stay because he’s a sensational footballer.”
Liverpool need to address the contract situations now
When neutral football supporters think of Liverpool, Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Alisson are considered the true world-class players in the squad.
To allow three of those to enter the final 12 months of their deals and potentially negotiate an Anfield exit in January is downright incompetence from the powers within.
CEO of football Michael Edwards was known to be hesitant to offer big-money contracts to players past the age of 30, with Georginio Wijnaldum the prime example. However, Van Dijk and Salah are special cases in this regard and look no worse this year than when they first arrived at Anfield.
Alexander-Arnold is Liverpool through and through, and his situation seems to be more relaxed with the club confident he will extend his contract, but with Real Madrid sniffing around why take the risk? The Reds are playing a dangerous game and at the moment where they face losing three of their star players for free.
Liverpool supporters are right to feel frustrated. Fenway Sports Group limped through another summer with a tight grip on their wallet, and the signings of Federico Chiesa this year and Giorgi Mamardashvili for next season will not paper over the cracks at Anfield.
It is clear that Salah wants to see out the rest of his career with the Reds [Melissa Reddy]. He has the chance to go in the history books as one of the greatest ever to wear the Liverpool shirt, so Edwards needs to get his priorities in line with the supporters wishes and tie down all three stars to new contracts as soon as possible.
In other Liverpool news, Liverpool to return to the ‘unforgettable’ USA in a bid to surpass £272m commercial mark.
For more Liverpool women news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.