-Credit:Sky Sports
Mohamed Salah insists he expects this to be his final season at Liverpool, with “no progress” on a new contract.
The Egyptian’s deal expires in June, and he told Sky Sports in an interview released on Friday: “So far, yes. It’s the last six months [of my time at Liverpool]. There is no progress there. We are far away from any progress. So, we just need to wait and see.”
Salah has been the driving force behind Liverpool’s ascent to the top of the Premier League table under Arne Slot this season. He has racked up an incredible 17 goals and 13 assists in just 18 games.
But there is a growing sense that his time at Anfield is coming to an end. Liverpool have been unwilling to hand out big-money contracts to aging players, but at 32 years old, Salah remains at the peak of his powers – and has been arguably the best player in Europe this season.
Salah has not been shy in giving his side of the story in recent months, insisting the ball is in the club’s court to get a deal over the line. But he says he is fully focused on winning a second Premier League title, rather than being consumed by off-field matters.
He added: “The thing in my head is that if this is the last six months, what do you want to see in the future? “Do you want to look back and say I was concerned or stressed about the contract?
Salah has been at the peak of his powers this season -Credit:ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images
“Or do you just want to say I had an unbelievable season? That’s what is in my head. If I ever feel distraction, I just remind myself I want to look back and say I had an unbelievable season. That’s what I want to do.”
Salah is one of three Liverpool stars out of contract at the end of the season. Defenders Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold – both central to Liverpool’s success in recent years – are also coming to the end of their deals, with Real Madrid trying to sign the England international, either this month or in the summer.
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The lingering uncertainty makes the job done by Slot and the three players this season all the more impressive. There has been no sense of distraction in their performances, with the Reds surging six points clear at the top of the Premier League table as the midway point of the campaign nears.
Salah says he is desperate for this era of success for Liverpool to finish with another Premier League title. “I still believe the team needs a trophy,” he admitted. “There is still half of the team left like me, Trent, Virgil, Alisson, Robbo [Andy Robertson]. It’s necessary for us to win another trophy before we all go.”