Liverpool’s future contract talks with Mohamed Salah could be complicated by the Saudi Pro League preparing to wait 12 months to snap up the Egyptian on a free transfer.
The Reds have already insisted they are planning for Salah being part of new head coach Arne Slot’s squad next season, with the player himself having hinted heavily this week that he will remain at Anfield for the start of a new era.
Liverpool rejected an £150million offer for Salah from Al-Ittihad on transfer deadline day last September, with the 31-year-old again being linked with a move to Saudi Arabia this summer as the league looks to bring in another raft of high-profile names.
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However, it has been claimed in The Telegraph the Saudi Pro League are now willing to wait another season to attempt to lure Salah away on a free transfer next year, with forward about to enter the final 12 months of his current deal with the Reds.
That would put pressure on Liverpool either agreeing a contract extension with Salah or cashing in on the player in the next two transfer windows, or run the risk of losing the player for nothing next year.
Talks with Salah and his representatives over a new deal are not expected to begin in earnest until new FSG chief executive Michael Edwards, Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes and incoming boss Slot officially start their roles on June 1. Hughes has been contract the agents of some players since his appointment was confirmed in March.
Skipper Virgil van Dijk and vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold are also approaching the final year of their respective contracts with agreeing new deals a priority for the club.