Paul Merson believes it is criminal Liverpool have allowed three of the best players in their history to wind their contracts down – but feels it would be the wrong move to offer Mohamed Salah a new deal.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said this week he felt confident Salah remains fully focused on the biggest week of their season despite the self-made headlines about his contract situation. After Sundays win at Southampton, the Egypt international made a rare stop for reporters and said: We are almost in December and I havent received any offers yet to stay in the club.
Im probably more out than in. Mo Salah on his future: Im probably more out than inLiverpool fixtures | Transfer Centre LIVE! | Papers – latest headlinesGet Sky Sports or stream with NOWThose comments took the focus away from the Champions League visit of Real Madrid, followed quickly by Manchester City coming to Anfield at the weekend, and Salah was criticised by former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher for his selfish timing.
Speaking on Soccer Special, Merson has now had his say on the matter, believing Salah is entitled to speak his mind – but added that he would not offer the 32-year-old a new contract… I wouldnt offer Salah new deal because of his age Its up to Salah if he wants to speak out – its his career.
I think hes earned the right to. Hes come out and said what he said, thats up to him. Yes, theres timings, but hes dictating enough. Hes playing well enough, his numbers are right up there, theyve been ridiculous, so why not? Why not? Because sooner or later, hell be the one getting the stick.
People will be turning around going, why hasnt he signed? Why has he not signed? And hes said he hasnt been offered. Personally, I wouldnt give him it. I wouldnt give him it. Im sorry, I wouldnt. I wouldnt give him a two-year contract on three-400 grand a week.
Hes 32, hes going to be 33 before the season finishes. That means hes going to still be playing at 35 years of age. I know people will say, if you got rid of him now, and then youve got to go and buy someone, they have to buy someone sooner or later, youre only kicking it down the road.
Sooner or later, youve got to do it. For me, with the fair play and everything, football changes. Hes got unbelievable pace. Hes an unbelievable player. But in three years, two years time, you cant get quicker.
What is Salah without his pace? I watched Kyle Walker at Bournemouth the other week. Ive never seen anybody run past Kyle Walker. I wouldnt expect Usain Bolt to run past him. And he got run past him. Hes another year older.
You just get older, you get older. If youre Harry Kane, its different. Harry Kane will play until hes 36, 37. He drops off, he can see a pass, he can play. I dont think it gets better, does it, for Salah? It cant get better, surely.
Theres no sign of a decline, though, is there? It might stay the same. It definitely wont get better. Surely it wont get better. I played my best football at this age. From Villa at 28 to 32, I played my best football.
But its still… In this game now, its a bit more of a younger mans sport, if you know what I mean. If you aint got pace, its very hard now. Unless youre a holding midfield player whos going to play as a number six, whos going to dictate the game.
Anywhere else over the pitch, you have to be electric. You have to be electric. And I dont see him being electric in three years time. Offering Salah 400k opens up can of worms Hes 32 years of age. Hes going to want 300 or 400 grand a week.
Salah has scored so many goals in the last seven years – but theyve won the Premier League once. Theyve won it once. So its not like were going, right, if he starts scoring now, theyll win it. Its hard to win the league.
Its hard. And for me, its his age. If he was in his age, Id just say have whatever you want. I could get my body into a certain position. They could all take their tops off. You cant go by their tops.
Youve got to go by his pace. Theyve all got that physique, you know what I mean? They can, but theyre not going to play like Salah. But the problem is hes going to be. Salah wont have Alexander-Arnold behind him next season Hes one of the best players.
Hes the best runner without the ball Ive ever seen. One of the best Ive seen. He makes runs when hes not got the ball as good as anybody. Like that run he makes for that goal. He makes that run. If he doesnt get the ball, he still makes it.
He goes at 100 miles an hour. He doesnt jog and make that run. He goes bang. Hes the best Ive seen without the ball making runs. But how long can he keep on doing that? How long? Youve got to remember as well, he plays behind Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Hes played behind Trent Alexander-Arnold for seven years. Hes got to be one of the best passers of the ball weve seen in the Premier League, in my opinion. He aint going to be there next season. So now all of a sudden, who gives him the ball? When he comes short and he spins, whos going to put that ball over? Then that diagonal ball.
Is Van Dijk staying? We hasnt signed yet. Every week that goes past, its 100 grand. I mean, thats a lot of money, isnt it? Criminal Liverpool have allowed triple contract saga to play out Salah is one of the best in the world.
One of the best in the world. But its going to open up an absolute can of worms. Its another two years. Im looking at the next year. I know we can say, OK, well, lets just look for now. I know Im a great believer, live in the now.
No-one appreciates that more than me, live in the now. But its alright living in the now and say, right, well give you 400 grand a week every week. But youre not. Youre going to give him 400 grand for the next 150 weeks.
And thats the problem. Theyre winning every week at the moment. So nothings been said about Van Dijk. Nothings been said about Trent Alexander-Arnold. Nothings been said about Salah. They lose three on the trot and everybodys going to be jumping all over them.
Why arent they signed? But at the end of the day, its not their fault. People upstairs, I dont know what theyve done. In football terms, its criminal how three of the best players to play for Liverpool for a long time, their contracts are running out all at the same time.
Its unbelievable.
