Liverpool told about 'simple' Mohamed Salah transfer equation with $127m stakes

Liverpool told about 'simple' Mohamed Salah transfer equation with $127m stakes

Mohamed Salah will be the subject of renewed Saudi transfer speculation this summer, but Liverpool has been told that the reality is relatively straightforward.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is entering the final year of his contract. In theory, then, the club has a decision to make on his future, but the Reds have been told that the reality is simple.

For his part, Salah seemingly intends to stay put. That is the club's understanding, and a social media post from the Liverpool talisman appeared to confirm that notion.

But Arne Slot has been reminded that this is the last realistic window to cash in on Salah. An ex Premier League player has couched the issue in stark terms.

Former goalkeeper Paul Robinson has told Liverpool that it's now or never when it comes to cashing in on a 31-year-old Salah. Speaking to the Football Insider podcast, he underlined the 'business view'.

"What has he got? Is it 12 months left on his contract? So from a business point of view, now is the time to let him go," Robinson insisted. "You're never going to get the £100m ($127m/€117m) for him halfway through the season in January.

"If you're looking at £100m for him now and if you think that you can recruit and build a squad with the players you've got and use that money to get a replacement then this is the time. If they want to get the money for him, he goes now, it's as simple as that.

"For him personally, I suspect it's not a decision about money. But if he waits another 12 months that £100m then goes into his wages."

Exactly what kind of offer would be on the table from Saudi Arabia this summer is unclear. The Pro League certainly retains an interest in Salah, after Al-Ittihad tabled a bid of $190m (£150m/€175m) last year, but the division is set to somewhat rein in its spending spree. It's also well aware that the Liverpool ace is currently set to be a free agent in a year's time.

Nonetheless, Robinson is right to point out that a summer sale would be the way to go if Liverpool intended to maximize Salah's resale value. Even a contract renewal would not guarantee a sizeable transfer fee a little further down the line, with age counting against the Egyptian in that regard.

n one sense, it's accurate to call the Salah question 'simple'. If he is to be sold to Saudi Arabia for big money, now is indeed the final realistic window.

But it's far from straightforward deciding whether that is the best course of action. Alongside the 'business' perspective, Liverpool must consider the footballing perspective; Salah once again ended the season as top scorer, and the Reds would have been far less successful without him. A winning team on the pitch is in turn good for business, which makes a simple decision look a lot more complex.