John Barnes says “we know the situation” with Mohamed Salah and expects the Liverpool star to make a U-turn on his proposed plans and see out his contract amid interest from Saudi Arabia.
The Egyptian was on the radar of the Saudi Pro League in the summer as they embarked on a major recruitment drive – landing Liverpool stars Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino. The Reds resisted a mammoth offer late in the window and retained their senior marksman.
Salah has been Liverpool’s top scorer in every year he’s been at the club and he penned a new deal in the summer of 2022, which tied him down for three years. The expectation though, among many, is that he will depart for Saudi, but Barnes doesn’t see that being the case.
He said, speaking ahead of his Quality Street sustainability campaign: “We know the situation with Mo Salah, he’s a hero for Muslims all over the world, and he’ll be a hero in Saudi Arabia. But he’s said he wants to stay at Liverpool for the remainder of his contract. I’m sure that opportunity for Saudi Arabia will arise, as for when, we don’t know.
“I expect him to stay at Liverpool for the next two years, if it changes, then it changes. He didn’t go because he wanted to stay and Liverpool wanted to keep him. He’ll be 32, 33 at the end of his contract so I don’t think (him going) is for the immediate future – in January or next summer.”
Mirror Sport understands that Liverpool had devised plans for life without Salah from next summer and have eyed Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane as a replacement. Jurgen Klopp is ready to use any funds raised from the Egyptian’s possible sale to fund a club-record move.
The Reds have invested in their forward resources with Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz all arriving in recent seasons. That firepower will allow Klopp to field an impressive front three even if Salah does leave.
“They’ll be better with Salah. He’s our No.1 player – in a year or two down the line we could have players who could compensate (for him leaving),” Barnes added. Salah has already scored 10 times in the Premier League – more than double any of his team-mates.
