MX23RW : Tuesday, April 15 10:22:30| >> :60:418:418:

Mohamed Salah 'reaches agreement in principle' over new Liverpool contract as final 'obstacle' revealed

Happy New Year Reds! Salah on brink of Liverpool renewal as last 'obstacle' revealed
© Imago
Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah supposedly agrees a new contract in principle with the Reds, but the renewal is still being held up due to an image rights issue.

Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah has reportedly reached an agreement in principle over a new contract with the Reds, but there is still one more hoop to jump through before a renewal can be sealed.

From Wednesday onwards, the Egypt international will be free to enter into discussions with foreign teams over a pre-contract agreement, as is standard with a player in the last six months of their deal.

After providing another goal and assist in Liverpool's 5-0 crushing of West Ham United over the weekend, Salah admitted that he and the club were still some way off striking an accord over a renewal.

As Salah continues to run down the last few months of his existing deal, clubs in the Saudi Pro League are believed to be attentive to the situation after Al-Ittihad's failed £150m approach in 2023.

However, Football Insider now reports that Liverpool have taken a huge step towards securing the signature of the former Chelsea and Roma man, who has now agreed a new deal with the club in principle.

Salah renewal 'held up' over image rights

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring on December 22, 2024© Imago

The report adds that an image rights dispute is currently preventing Liverpool from formally tying Salah down to fresh terms, although that is now the biggest obstacle to an official announcement.

The attacker's public ploy that a renewal is not imminent is allegedly a tactic he has been persuaded to use by his advisors, who believe that such statements to the media will put pressure on Liverpool to give them what they want.

That strategy will seemingly pay dividends, as there is a growing feeling that Salah will soon officially put pen to paper, ending Saudi Arabia, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain's hopes of signing him on a free transfer.

Salah is holding all the cards in contract talks with the Reds thanks to his outstanding form in the 2024-25 season, where he has registered an astounding 20 goals and 17 assists in just 26 games in all tournaments.

No player has come up with more Premier League goals (17) or assists (13) than Salah in the current campaign, as Liverpool sit eight points clear of closest challengers Nottingham Forest at the top of the table.

What about Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk?

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold pictured on October 23, 2024© Imago

All Salah-related rumours must be taken with that little pinch of salt until the announcement from the club is released, but this latest development would certainly make for a happy new year for the Anfield faithful.

News of the winger apparently edging closer to a new deal comes just a couple of hours after Liverpool supposedly rejected an opening advance from Real Madrid for Trent Alexander-Arnold, also out of contract in 2025.

The Spanish champions did not even get as far as presenting their financial package before being rebuffed by the Reds, who remain in constant dialogue with his team over a new deal.

Meanwhile, it was reported a while back that Virgil van Dijk had accepted an offer to extend his stay on Merseyside, but as that has not been made official by the club yet, he is still free to engage in talks with foreign sides from next month.

Inter Milan was recently touted as a possible destination, but it is believed that the Serie A champions have baulked at the Dutchman's salary demands.

ID:561804:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6266:
Written by
Ben Knapton

Mohamed Salah future - Click here for more stories

Click here for more stories about Mohamed Salah

Click here for more stories about Liverpool

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool celebrates at full-time after his side's Premier League match against West Ham United, on December 29, 2024
Read Next:
Van Dijk to wave goodbye? Update as clubs circle around Reds' free agents
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool32237274314376
2Arsenal321712357273063
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest32176951381357
4Newcastle UnitedNewcastle31175956401656
5Manchester CityMan City32167962422055
6Chelsea32159856391754
7Aston Villa3215984946354
8Bournemouth321391052401248
9Fulham32139104743448
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton32121285149248
11Brentford32127135248443
12Crystal Palace311110104140143
13Everton32814103438-438
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd32108143845-738
15Tottenham HotspurSpurs321141760491137
16Wolverhampton WanderersWolves32105174761-1435
17West Ham UnitedWest Ham3298153654-1835
18Ipswich TownIpswich3249193367-3421
19Leicester CityLeicester3246222772-4518
20Southampton3224262377-5410


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!