Mo Salah is heading for the Anfield exit, according to former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson – with a host of clubs across the world preparing to sign the Egypt star.
The 32-year-old has entered the final year of his deal on Merseyside and recently said no attempt has been made to open up discussions around an extension.
And Johnson, who was speaking to Betfred, believes Salah will leave – but the other expiring contract holders Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk are more likely to pen new deals.
“I believe Mo will leave and the other two will stay,” he said. “Each of them are going to have an endless list of clubs that will want to sign them if they’re available as a free agent and if Liverpool know that any of them aren’t going to sign a new contract, then I believe they’ve been foolish to not cash in. You can’t have players of their calibre walking out on a free.”
Salah was last year linked with a bumper move to the Saudi Pro League but opted to remain in what turned out to be Jurgen Klopp ’s final season as manager.
But Johnson insists it would be a mistake to move to the Middle East because he has too much left to give at the very top level.
“It depends because Mo still has an awful lot to give. He doesn’t play as if he’s 32 years old, so you assume as long as he feels right, that he can continue to play at this level for a couple more years, so you hope a move to Saudi Arabia isn’t of interest to him right now.
“If he’s available on a free at the end of the season, then there’ll be a list of exciting clubs all waiting to sign him.”
But Liverpool – who kick off their Champions League campaign against Milan tonight – should not feel too down if Salah departs with new signing Federico Chiesa primed to do a good job as his replacement – while Johnson thinks Crystal Palace and England star Eberechi Eze would be a good fit.
He added: “You don’t want Mo to leave, but with Chiesa there already and if Eberechi Eze was also to come in next summer, then they’d both be very good options if Mo departs.”
