Former Liverpool goalkeeper David James has explained why he is convinced Mo Salah intends to stay at Anfield beyond this season, while the player’s ideal replacement in a Reds shirt has been named were he to leave.
The Egyptian star is widely regarded as the Reds’ most influential player, having started the season in brilliant form and having surged up to fifth on the club’s all-time top scorers list. However, his £350,000 a week deal at Liverpool is due to expire at the end of the current season, with the player recently sending supporters into something of a panic with his “as you know this is my last year” comments in relation to his soon-to-expire contract.
Since those comments were aired much has been said about the player’s future, with Jamie Carragher and Daniel Sturridge among those convinced that Salah plans to stick around.
Any new deal will likely need Liverpool to offer him a pay hike on his existing wage – which is already the largest in the club’s history.
However, James is adamant that Salah intends to stick around and believes the level of performance seen by Salah already this season illustrates a player who is determined to stay.
“I think if Mo Salah wanted out of Liverpool, or he had his head turned by the other opportunities available to him, then I don’t think you’d see the version of Mo Salah we’ve seen so far,” James said.
“We know he can earn huge sums of money by moving elsewhere and he could take a move to one of those places and not have to produce the standard of performance he does for Liverpool. For me, I look at what Salah is producing in the shirt as a barometer to his desire and likelihood of signing a new contract.
