Mohamed Salah delivered a guarded update on his contractual negotiations with Liverpool after starring in a 5-0 thrashing of West Ham United on Sunday evening.
The prolific forward will be a free agent when his existing Liverpool deal expires on 30 June. The five-star showing at the London Stadium was Salah’s last match before New Year’s day, which marks the start of when players with just six months left on their contracts can begin negotiations with foreign clubs.
Salah has made no secret about his frustration with Liverpool’s approach. The outspoken forward had taken to peppering his post-match interviews with hints about his uncertain future, repeatedly referring to a series of ‘lasts’ which he was savouring.
It has always been thought that Salah’s priority is agreeing a contract extension with the Reds, however, it wasn’t until the second week of December that the club finally presented their star player with an opening offer.
Since then, Salah has refrained from any more public outbursts regarding his contractual status. When quizzed on the subject post-game by Sky Sports, Salah reluctantly said: “Nothing [has] really moved on. I’m focused with the team and hopefully we can win the Premier League.”
The 32-year forward was keen to quash any speculation, stressing: “No, we are far away from that. But I don’t want to put something in the media and people starting saying stuff.”
Salah is not the only Liverpool player approaching the end of his deal. Alongside experienced centre-back Virgil van Dijk, the club’s 26-year-old academy graduate Trent Alexander-Arnold will also be a free agent come June as things stand.