‘Already over’: Wenger sees Liverpool’s major stumbling block in contract talks with Mohamed Salah

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Arsene Wenger knows Liverpool will be unsure about one aspect of their contract offer for Mohamed Salah. The Reds face a big decision.

Mohamed Salah doesn’t exactly have long left on his Liverpool contract. It currently expires in 2023, putting his club in a difficult position this summer.

Do they sell and get a big fee? Do they let him run down his deal and leave for nothing? Or do they simply give him what he wants?

The latter is certainly the preference for everyone but it’s not exactly simple. The Mirror reports an eye-watering £400k per week offer on the table – enormous money that is far higher than every other offer in Liverpool’s history.

But here’s the real problem with it: Salah turns 30 this summer. He’s worth that massive amount right now but will he be at 33 or 34? That’s the big question facing Liverpool this summer and it’s one Arsene Wenger sees clearly.

“[Salah] has had an exceptional season and since he has come to Liverpool, every year he [has been] better, so he deserves his contract,” Wenger told beIN Sports.

“The only thing is that, once they arrive to 30 years old, it’s always ‘how long do you sign them’, because the best-paid are already over their peak.”

Mohamed Salah and Liverpool

It’s unquestionably the big debate here. Liverpool appear willing to offer Salah what he wants but for how long? In all likelihood, he really won’t be worth anything like £400k in the final year or two of a five-year deal. Maybe not in a four-year deal.

But if paying that is what it takes to get this deal signed, we think it’s worth it. Having Salah over the next two years – at least – will be worth every penny and gives Liverpool their best chance of winning under Jurgen Klopp.

The German won’t be around forever, after all. Making sure he has the best team available to him is worth it, even if Salah slows down in years three, four and five.