With every passing day, Liverpool inch closer to that point of no return, and January opens the door on big twists. Salah - the 2024 star who has scored or created an astonishing 52 goals in 44 games - could be available on a free transfer to anyone in a year's time unless talks improve.
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Strategy or risk?
The question is pretty straightforward: why hasn't Liverpool sealed Salah for the long term? There's absolutely no reason not to. He leads all of Liverpool's attacking statistics, producing consistently. Throughout the year, he showed he's still in top form, combining skill with commitment.
On the other hand, perhaps Liverpool's board is thinking long-term. In 2025 Salah will be 32, and an expensive contract for a player of that age may be seen as a gamble. Nonetheless, to lose the forward for nothing, with many clubs lurking, does indeed seem impossible.
Salah wants to stay
Salah has been open in interviews throughout the season about his desire to stay with the club. After a win against Southampton in November, he said he hadn't received a renewal proposal yet but outlined his willingness to stay on. As recently as last Sunday, he said his focus was on Liverpool and the Premier League.
The only thing I think about is wanting Liverpool to win the league, and I want to be part of that."
These words give a feeling of relief and frustration in equal measure among the fans. First, because Salah shows his commitment, but second, negotiations are being delayed. He's like saying, "I want to stay, but what about you?"
A window of opportunities and risks
For Salah, of course, that crucial ingredient is January's arrival. Salah would, from then on, be able to negotiate freely with any club without Liverpool receiving a transfer fee. It is hard to imagine top clubs in Europe passing up such an opportunity to sign a forward of his caliber without paying a transfer fee.
This situation puts Liverpool in an uncomfortable position: failing to speed up negotiations could mean losing their star player to a direct rival. Even worse, Salah's departure wouldn't just be a technical loss but also a symbolic one; his presence is a reference point both for the team and its fans.
The weight of numbers
Look at the numbers Salah puts up, and it's hard to see why Liverpool would blink. He closed 2024 as the most decisive player among Europe's top five leagues: 29 goals and 23 assists in 44 games. Nearly half the team's goals involved him.
Salah contributes much more than the numbers-players that consistently pop up at crucial times to inspire teammates and steal vital matches are few between. This would be the substantial, body-and-blood gut punch to a team intent on winning an English league championship.
Liverpool's silence
So far, Liverpool's management inaction is inexplicable. Perhaps it is to avoid inflation of prices or trepidation with making a commitment over such a long period. Whatever the reason, the risk is palpable.
Replacing Salah's influence would be expensive, while his potential departure would damage morale, hinting that not even the team's most prized assets are not immune to an exit.
Numbers Speak
In Salah's case, the stakes are perfectly clear: the longer this drags on, the more pressing it will become for Liverpool to take care of business. The clock is ticking, and every call will be monumental in nature.