Liverpool Football Club fully expects star forward Mohamed Salah to remain at Anfield this summer, despite ongoing speculation about his future as he enters the final year of his contract. The club is planning their squad for the upcoming season with the assumption that the 31-year-old Egyptian will be a key part of it, according to reliable sources on Merseyside.
The news comes amid reports of a heated exchange between Salah and outgoing manager Jurgen Klopp during Saturday's draw at West Ham United, which sparked rumors of a potential rift between the two. However, there has been no indication of internal concern about the incident, and with Klopp's impending departure, any potential issue between them is considered largely irrelevant.
Salah's situation will be one of the first tasks for incoming sporting director Richard Hughes, who is set to lead talks on a fresh deal for the forward before his contract ends. The futures of captain Virgil van Dijk and his deputy Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose deals expire at the same time as Salah's, will also be addressed once the appointment of Arne Slot as Klopp's successor is finalized.
Despite ongoing interest from Saudi Arabia, particularly from Al Ittihad, who pursued Salah heavily last summer, there is little belief within the club that the player wants to move there. The view in the Saudi Pro League (SPL) hierarchy is that Salah wishes to spend another campaign with Liverpool, and while their interest has not disappeared, it is less aggressive than it was when the SPL was investing heavily in new signings last summer.
If Salah does not extend his Liverpool terms or commit elsewhere, the SPL might prefer to focus on him in 2025 when he will be 33 and there would be no transfer fee involved. This could potentially leave few viable suitors for the player, who has entered the all-time top five of Liverpool's goalscorers, behind only Ian Rush, Roger Hunt, Gordon Hodgson, and Billy Liddell.
The return of Michael Edwards to the club as Fenway Sports Group's CEO of football could also play a significant role in Salah's future at Liverpool. Edwards, who is described as "a huge advocate of Salah," persuaded Klopp to sign the forward back in 2017, despite reports suggesting the manager preferred Julian Brandt at the time. The influx of insider reports coinciding with Edwards' appointment suggests he may have been the source of the latest information regarding Salah's situation.
Salah's stance will no doubt be helped by Liverpool qualifying for next season's Champions League, with the Reds all but guaranteed a place in the new-look tournament after Tottenham's 3-2 loss to Arsenal. The forward has excelled once more in the 2023-24 season, accumulating 29 goals in 49 appearances for club and country across all competitions.
