Liverpool, the Premier League leaders, have been warned they could make a “ridiculous” mistake by letting Mohamed Salah leave.
Salah is among the top 20 footballers who could become free agents this summer, as he has entered the final six months of his contract. His teammates, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, are in a similar situation, with their futures at the club still uncertain.
A report on Wednesday suggested that two of Liverpool’s key players have already signed new contracts, though no official announcement has been made.
Salah has been one of the Premier League’s standout performers this season, scoring 21 goals and providing 13 assists in 23 appearances. Former Liverpool player Stan Collymore has emphasized why the club must retain the Egyptian star.
“There’s still a lot of back-and-forth,” Collymore said. “In my opinion, Liverpool would be making a huge mistake if they let him go.
“The idea that you can find a player of his caliber for £50-60 million and seamlessly replace him is unrealistic. Salah cost around £30-35 million when he arrived, but replacing him now would be far more expensive.
“Haaland is signing a new contract worth over half a million per week, Mbappe isn’t leaving Real Madrid, and beyond them, there aren’t many world-class strikers available.
“Liverpool’s recruitment team might have plans in place, but keeping Salah is the obvious choice. They wouldn’t have to pay a transfer fee, and he already understands the club. It would just be a matter of negotiating wages and bonuses for the next three years.”
Collymore further argued that if Liverpool win the Premier League and Champions League this season—both realistic possibilities—it would make financial sense to retain Salah, as the club would generate enough revenue to cover his wages.