Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann has given advice over Mohamed Salah’s future at the club.
The Egyptian forward was the subject of a £150m bid from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad, which was rejected by the Reds. There were suggestions that the Saudi Pro League champions would return with an improved offer but one never materialised and every Liverpool supporter breathed a sigh of relief when the Saudi transfer deadline finally passed on September 7.
For all the headlines surrounding his future, on the pitch, Salah appeared to be unfazed and has chalked up six goal involvements in the club’s first five games of the season. However, there is a feeling that this will not be the last time that the Reds' resolve will be tested.
Salah, 31, has entered the final two years of his contract. The forward will be pivotal to Jurgen Klopp’s side sealing a return to the Champions League and mounting a title challenge, but Hamann fears that his old club will soon have a tough decision to make.
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“If Mo Salah wants to leave in January, then Klopp will have to think about it,” Hamann told NeueOnlineCasinos. “[Sir Alex] Ferguson took that approach because he knew he could reinvest that money. Klopp doesn't have the same option - hence why he kept hold of Mane and Firmino for several years.
“As far as Salah goes, I don't think they should lose him for free (his contract is up in 2025). If the Saudi option is still there in January, then he'll have to think about it.”
A major reason Liverpool were unwilling to discuss selling Salah was the limited time the club had to sign a replacement. However, Hamann feels that no player could truly take Salah’s place in the Liverpool team, if he were to leave, not even Arsenal talisman Bukayo Saka.
“We'll have to see. Bukayo Saka has been mentioned, too. Just take a look at Salah's numbers - he's scored 20+ goals in all but one of his Premier League seasons and he's never injured,” Hamann continued.
“His numbers are incredible and the comparisons to (Ian) Rush, (Robbie) Fowler, and (Michael) Owen are valid. Salah isn't even a centre forward and he's up there with the true Liverpool greats. He makes goals, too. He's just brilliant. It's impossible to replace him like-for-like.
“It depends if Saka wants to leave - he's a London boy. Liverpool have never been known for breaking transfer fee records, either. We don't know when or if Salah leaves yet, and by the time he does leave, somebody else could be on the radar. There are players at Brighton doing great things, for example. I think it's a bit early to discuss Salah's replacement.”
