Mohamed Salah is closer than ever to extending his Liverpool contract and putting an end to a long-running saga over his future.
Mail Sport understands that the Egyptian is now closing in on signing a new deal at the Anfield club.
Virgil van Dijk is likely to follow suit after dropping a significant hint over his future twice in the last week. The captain said ‘progress’ was being made at Craven Cottage and told a kids question-and-answer event with Cadbury’s that a resolution will soon be found.
It is understood the Dutch defender is heading in the right direction with his saga, too, and is on course to also put pen to paper on a new deal – though nothing is signed or official on either count yet.
Salah has attracted mass interest from Saudi Arabia in the last two years. That saw Al Ittihad make a £150million bid in August 2023, which was swiftly rejected by Liverpool.
The Saudis have retained an interest in Salah and explored whether they could convince him to join them this summer, when his Liverpool contract is set to expire. The 32-year-old has long been the ‘dream target’ of the Saudi Pro League.
Mohamed Salah is closing in on a new deal to remain with the Premier League leaders Liverpool
Arne Slot has faced a near barrage of questions on the uncertain futures of three of his biggest stars
Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk is also expected to put pen to paper on a new deal at the club
Clubs in the region are also circling over potential a summer move for Reds forward Darwin Nunez, while Luis Diaz is also attracting interest from around the world.
The Saudis approached Liverpool in January to sign Nunez but the club were not willing to sell their striker halfway through their Premier League title tilt.
Salah himself has publicly discussed his contract saga several times, saying in November that he was ‘more out than in’ and telling Sky Sports that this was his last season at the club.
Many observers viewed this as a tactic from Salah to put pressure on Liverpool’s hierarchy, led by Fenway Sports Group (FSG) chief Michael Edwards and new sporting director Richard Hughes, to extend his deal.
A contract offer has been on the table for some time but Salah and his representative, Ramy Abbas, wanted a better deal. FSG have a long-standing policy of not extending any deal for players in their 30s but fans have called for the owners to find an exception here.
It is understood that Salah is set to miss Egypt’s June international camp to fully rest his body after a long season for Liverpool, further pointing to his desire to stay.
His decision to skip last summer’s Olympics is cited by sources as a reason for his stellar season in which he has scored 32 goals and made 22 assists.
No details are known on Salah’s potential new deal but sources suggest a two-year extension seems most likely.
It is understood that Salah is set to miss Egypt’s June international camp to fully rest his body after a long season for Liverpool
Ibrahima Konate is another who has uncertainty looming over his future, though his deal runs until the end of next season
Trent Alexander-Arnold is nearing free transfer to Spanish giants Real Madrid this summer
As for Van Dijk, who turns 34 in July, it also feels like he is on the verge of committing his future to the club. He said earlier this week that progress had been made.
His contract has long been deemed the least difficult to solve despite interest from other clubs around the world.
Van Dijk’s defensive partner, Ibrahima Konate, is another who has uncertainty looming over his future – though his deal runs until the end of next season. Real Madrid are among those that are keeping an eye from a distance on his situation.
Liverpool have opened talks with the French international but an agreement is not thought to be close yet. While the futures of Van Dijk, Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are the priority right now, Konate’s contract will likely be thrown more into the spotlight next season.
Real Madrid are finalising a move to sign Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer this summer. Nothing is signed yet but, as reported in December, the 15-time champions of Europe are confident he will soon be their man.
The right back is on track to be fit from an ankle injury in the next month.
Meanwhile, legendary former boss Jurgen Klopp will return to Merseyside next month for a charity gala for Liverpool’s foundation arm. He will be at the ball at Liverpool Cathedral on Friday May 23.
That falls two days before the day the Reds will likely lift the Premier League trophy, at home to Crystal Palace, but there is no indication either way whether he will be present at Anfield. Boss Arne Slot would welcome him to a game with open arms.