Mohamed Salah would be making a "massive mistake" if he left Liverpool to sign a more a lucrative contract at another club, according to former Reds defender Jose Enrique.
Salah's long-term future has been the subject of intense speculation this season, with the Egyptian's current contract due to expire in the summer of 2023.
Talks over a new deal have stalled, with Liverpool reluctant to match Salah's current wage demands. Reports have claimed the 29-year-old is holding out for a weekly salary of more than £300,000, which would make him by far Liverpool's highest-paid player.
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In a recent interview with GQ, Salah insisted he is not asking for “crazy stuff” in order to extend his stay at Anfield.
Enrique says he understands Salah’s position and has called on both sides to reach an agreement.
“I think it would be a big loss for him and for the club [if he left],” Enrique told SPORTbible, on behalf of Genting Casino.
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“At the moment he is being completely respectful. I respect both sides to be honest. Salah is seeing other world class players who are playing in different positions but are earning a lot more than him. He could ask ‘why am I not earning what they are earning? I am the best player this season in the Premier League, and in the world as well.’
“I understand his position and I understand at the same time the club’s position as well. They have a wage structure at the club. I’m sure they will want Salah to be the best earner at the club, but they maybe don’t want to approach those numbers.
“I know what will happen, everyone knows. All the top players… Virgil van Dijk is the best centre-back in the world, Alisson is one of the best goalkeepers – if they keep doing well, they will be claiming for more money in the future. They will think that Salah is there… they won’t get what Salah will get but they will want to be close to Salah.
“I understand the club’s position, but I believe if they want to sort it, they can sort it. There are many ways they can sort this out and both sides will be happy. Both sides have put massive balls on the table and neither want of them want to go back a little bit. And I think both sides should go back a little bit.
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“Because I don’t think it would be good for Liverpool or good for him either if he left.”
Liverpool have refused to be held to ransom over wage demands in recent years, with midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum leaving the club last summer after failing to agree terms on a new deal at Anfield.
Wijnaldum joined French giants Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer but admitted earlier this season that he is not happy at the Parc des Princes.
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Enrique believes Salah would also end up regretting leaving Liverpool if he failed to sign a new deal.
“Where is he going to go? To Real Madrid, PSG… places like that,” added Enrique.
“Yes, they will pay you more but are you going to be as happy as you are at Liverpool? You are a hero. You are a legend. If you stay at the club you can probably become the biggest player ever for the club, if he keeps doing these kind of numbers.
“It would be a massive mistake from both sides [if he left].”
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Salah has scored 153 goals in 239 games for Liverpool since joining from Roma in 2017, and has won both the Premier League and Champions League during his time on Merseyside.
Liverpool added the Carabao Cup to their trophy cabinet in February and remain in contention for an unprecedented quadruple this season.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are just one point behind Premier League leaders Manchester City, while they are also through to the quarter-finals of both the Champions League and FA Cup.
When asked if Liverpool could become the first English club to win the quadruple, Enrique added: “The question is why not?
“To be honest if they won the Champions League and the Premier League, I would be happy with one of them,” added Enrique, who played 99 games for Liverpool between 2011 and 2016.
“They have the chance to make history and win every single one of them. Why not?”
Topics: Liverpool, Mohamed Salah, Spotlight, Football, Premier League, Transfers
Rory O'Callaghan