Mohamed Salah contract update: Liverpool manager Arne Slot discusses winger’s situation

Slot: Salah is smart enough to make the right decision

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has expressed confidence that forward Mohamed Salah is “wise enough to make the right decision” regarding his future.

The 32-year-old’s contract is set to expire in the summer, and he revealed in January that this would be his final season at Anfield, as he and the club were “far away from any progress” on a new deal.

Salah, who has netted 23 goals this season, has been instrumental in helping Liverpool reach the top of the Premier League and the Champions League round of 16.

The Egypt international has frequently been linked with a potential move to Saudi Arabia, with the country’s sports minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, describing him as “a big prize” and stating they “would love to have him.”

“Everybody wants him, including us,” said Slot. “We want him to extend, of course, that is clear. I’m not surprised that Saudi Arabia wants him, but I wouldn’t be surprised if other countries are interested too.”

He continued, “He’s old enough and wise enough, and has made so many smart decisions in his career, that he will make the right decision for himself and, hopefully, for us as well.”

Salah has scored 19 goals in the Premier League this season, bringing his total to 176 goals, moving him up to seventh in the all-time Premier League goal-scoring rankings.

Along with Salah, captain Virgil van Dijk and right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold also have contracts expiring in the summer. Slot mentioned he has had regular conversations with all three players about their futures.

“Of course, I speak to these players,” Slot said in his pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool’s away game against Bournemouth on Saturday (15:00 GMT). “I speak to them, not every day like [sporting director] Richard [Hughes], but quite often, and it would be ridiculous if, during all these discussions, we never talked about the future. Of course, we do.”

He added, “As you probably also know, that’s not something I’m going to discuss with you. It’s not only the three who are out of contract, you also talk about future matters with other players too. It’s an ongoing process, but it’s also something I won’t talk about publicly with you.”