Mohamed Salah's Contract Saga: Could Losing Him for Free Be Liverpool's Costly Mistake?
As Mohamed Salah chases Erling Haaland's Premier League goal record, Liverpool risks losing their star player for free if contract talks fail.

Mohamed Salah is on the verge of rewriting Premier League history, yet Liverpool fans face an uneasy reality: their talismanic forward could depart Anfield as a free agent this summer. With just nine games potentially remaining in his Liverpool career, the Egyptian superstar stands at a career-defining crossroads.
The Records Within Salah's Reach
- Sergio Agüero's record: Salah needs just one more goal to surpass Agüero as the highest-scoring non-English player in Premier League history (currently tied at 184 goals).
- Erling Haaland's milestone: With 27 goals already this season, Salah could challenge Haaland's single-season record of 36 (set in 2022-23).
- Historical context: Achieving this at age 32 would be unprecedented - Haaland was 22 when he set the record, while Andy Cole and Alan Shearer were in their early 20s during their record-breaking campaigns.
Liverpool's Contract Conundrum
Liverpool faces complex negotiations with:
- Mohamed Salah (32 years old): The club's attacking talisman showing no signs of decline
- Virgil van Dijk (33): Still performing at world-class level despite approaching his mid-30s
- Trent Alexander-Arnold (26): Reportedly a prime target for Real Madrid on a free transfer
"Every goal Salah scores makes Liverpool's hesitation in contract talks appear more reckless," says ESPN's Mark Ogden.
Key Considerations for Liverpool
- The club rejected a £150m bid from Al Ittihad in 2023, valuing his contributions over immediate financial gain
- Salah's current form (27 goals) represents his best Premier League return since his debut season (32 goals in 2017-18)
- The dilemma of offering long-term contracts to aging stars while maintaining squad competitiveness
What's at Stake
If Salah departs without a transfer fee after potentially:
- Breaking Haaland's record
- Delivering Liverpool's first Premier League title in five years
- Cementing his legacy as one of the club's greatest ever players
This scenario could go down as one of the most costly miscalculations in Liverpool's modern history. As the season reaches its climax, all eyes are on whether FSG can secure their Egyptian King's future at Anfield.
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