It finally looks like Liverpool and Mohamed Salah have reached an agreement. The Mirror reports that the English club has agreed to a two-year extension of the Egyptian star's contract. His current deal is up in June 2025, although it hasn't been signed yet, and it now looks like the rumors about his possible departure are being silenced.
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For those who have followed Salah since 2017, when he arrived at Anfield, it is almost impossible to imagine the Reds without him. After all, he has not only redefined the role of a modern forward but has also become the face of the team. However, behind the scenes, things have been a bit turbulent over the past few days.
The impasse over the renewal and the shadow of age
It all started with a post-match statement. After Liverpool's win against Southampton, Salah was candid, and stated he had not yet received an offer to renew his contract. Without holding back, he made it clear he wanted to stay at Liverpool, but the decision was not entirely up to him.
The comment sent alarm bells ringing among fans and set tongues speculating over a possible exit. Failure to renew in January would see Salah free to sign a pre-contract with anyone. Clubs such as PSG started to appear on the radar even as the French team denied interest.
What was the major sticking point in negotiations? Age. Salah is 32 and while he wanted a three-year extension, the club came back with an offer of only one additional season.
Answer on the field
If there was anybody who doubted whether Salah could keep being decisive, he did answer in the best possible way: on the pitch. With 13 goals in 14 Premier League games, not only is he the top scorer in the league, but he keeps being the offensive engine for Liverpool.
Those numbers become even more impressive across all competitions. In 21 games played so far, Salah has scored 15 goals and provided 12 assists. A performance worthy of someone still at his peak, despite advancing age.
His importance goes beyond the statistics. Salah is a symbol of Liverpool's post-2010 era. He was a key part of historic titles, such as the 2019 Champions League and the 2019/20 Premier League.
He must be allowed to see out the remaining years of his career, which is a massive risk. His replacement of similar quality would take plenty of money and a gamble on someone unlikely to have the same instant effect.
The market and Liverpool's dilemma
Though the renewal now appears back on track, the situation that unfolded exposed a dilemma to which Liverpool will soon find itself: veterans are seen as too old for long-term deals, but Salah - like many global stars - defies that logic.
The market has changed. Today, elite athletes have shown remarkable longevity. There are plenty of examples: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Robert Lewandowski remain decisive well past the age of 30.
At 32, Salah is very much in that bracket. He's a player who continues to shine in the most competitive league in the world and has all the credentials to keep his level high for a few more seasons.