S Poddar
There he was again, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, demonstrating just how indispensable he is to the cause in a Man-of-the-Match display during a rollercoaster ride against Manchester United. Indeed, since his move from AS Roma in 2017, the Egyptian forward has warmed his way into the hearts of the Anfield faithful, and at the age of 32, he remains a key force in the armory of the Reds.
His form on the field has not dwindled one bit, even during the drastic changes taking place at Liverpool, from selling to buying key players to the departure of long-serving manager Jürgen Klopp. Now, under new manager Arne Slot, not much has surely changed, with Salah having quickly picked up the tempo, now managing to set up three matches while scoring three goals in only three matches this season. Particularly, his display in the recent game against Manchester United, where he scored one goal and provided two assists, has again shown the fans why he is still on top of his game.
Following the match, Salah claimed that his position at Liverpool – which included discussions on his contract – was still very foggy. “I’m waiting to see whether this is my last year at Liverpool or not,” Salah said, although it seems like he’s waiting in limbo, with his current contract running until 2025.
One of the best-known football journalists, Fabrizio Romano, suggests that the wait may not be too long for Salah himself to clarify his future. Liverpool are understood to be preparing to open talks with Salah over a fresh contract before January 2024 in an attempt to secure his services beyond 2025 amid concerns that the player could enter the last 18 months of his terms and could be free to speak with foreign clubs from January under UEFA regulations, potentially enabling him to sign a pre-contract agreement.
It is the audacious interest in Everton’s center-back Jarrad Branthwaite that has already had people’s interest piqued. The 21-year-old is, of course, out of most of the season after a groin injury, sitting on a hotbed in the summer transfer window with great amounts of strong interest in his services from Manchester United. However, the Uniteds were put off by Everton’s £70 million price tag.
Despite this setback for United, Liverpool reportedly remains undeterred and is seriously considering a bid for Branthwaite. Sources suggest that Liverpool has already contacted the player’s agent to gauge his interest in a potential move across Stanley Park to Anfield. The possibility of such a move has caught the attention of many, given the fierce rivalry between Liverpool and Everton.
With Salah showing no signs of slowing down on the pitch, his future at Liverpool remains a point of debate for either the fans or any analysts. His future may well be decided in the next few months if the Egyptian King extends ties with Liverpool or if some other team comes looking for his services. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s pursuit of Branthwaite underlines further the monumental commitment the giants of the Merseyside have in continuing to add strong squad members, not just in aluminum but in making them capable of fighting battles on all fronts.
In a nutshell, off the field, it will be an interesting few months for Liverpool, with contract discussions of Salah and possible transfer moves. No doubt, the actions the club makes in these regards will most probably help shape their fortunes for years to come.
