David Ornstein has claimed that Mohamed Salah’s wage demands do not fit into Liverpool’s ‘methodology’ for the future.
Speaking to The Athletic Football Podcast, Ornstein gave his thoughts on why Salah is yet to sign a new deal at Liverpool.
“Paying Mo salah in excess of £400,000 a week as he heads into his thirties is one thing, it’s a much bigger question than paying Darwin Nunez, I don’t know what it’ll be, but £80, £90, £100, £110k-per-week,” said the journalist.
“That slots in perfectly and this is part of Liverpool’s methodology going forward. Paying in excess of £400k-per-week is not, and perhaps that’s why we don’t have an agreement on Salah as things stand.”
In Nunez, The Reds looks set to make a big signing this week. However, with salary demands far lower than some of their top earners, the striker’s arrival won’t unsettle their wage bill.
Not looking good on the Salah front
It isn’t looking good on Salah’s new deal at Liverpool. Not at all.
Unless the 29-year-old lowers his current demands substantially, there looks to be simply no chance of him staying.
In going out and getting Nunez, Liverpool have shown that they’re not afraid to spend big on quality replacements.
Crucially, those replacements aren’t players who will obliterate their wage structure. Luis Diaz is another who came in to revitalise the Liverpool attack for a relatively big fee.
According to Salary Sport though, the Colombian is one of Liverpool’s lower earners, on a reported £100-a-week. Diaz’s impact proves that it is possible to refresh the squad without ripping up the blueprint.
It’s been reported that Nunez will be on a little more than Diaz, at £140k-a-week. Still, it’s a far-cry from the kind of numbers being spoken about in regards to Salah and also Sadio Mane.
Of course Salah isn’t just any old player who can be easily replaced. But given their track record for bringing in players who are on the verge of being special for sustainable wages, Liverpool won’t be fazed.
Time will tell whether there may still be some wiggle-room left to operate in for Salah. With everything we know about the way that Liverpool do business though, an agreement now seems like a long-shot.