Liverpool slap €40 million asking price on Barcelona-linked forward

Liverpool are sweating over the future of superstar forward Mohamed Salah amidst a contract standoff.

The 29-year-old is undoubtedly one of the best footballers in the game currently and has been tearing it up at Anfield ever since he joined the club from AS Roma in 2017. He has plundered 28 goals and ten assists from 35 games in the ongoing campaign, leading the Reds charge for a quadruple.

However, Salah’s future beyond the current season has been cast into doubts. The Egyptian superstar’s current contract with Liverpool will expire in the summer of 2023 and talks over an extension have not been going on smoothly.

The former Chelsea ace is believed to be on a deal worth €9 million per year currently but is seeking almost double the wages on his new contract, i.e., €17 million-a-year. Liverpool, who follow a strict wage structure, are unwilling to match that figure, leading to a standoff in negotiations.

It has led to speculations over his future at Anfield, with Barcelona among the clubs interested in the 29-year-old superstar.

Now a report from Catalunya Radio has shed some more light on the situation surrounding the Liverpool forward. It is claimed that the Reds are still in negotiations with their star man’s entourage to come to an agreement.

If they fail to do so, the Premier League giants run the risk of losing him for no transfer fee in 2023. It has compelled the Reds to consider the possibility of a sale in the summer, with the report claiming that they could agree to a departure for a fee of just around €40 million.

Even though Salah will be entering the final year of his contract, it is hard to imagine that Liverpool would be willing to sell one of their greatest players for such a small fee. Given his quality and the form that he is in, the Egyptian international is likely to command a much higher fee.

With Barcelona seemingly set to lose out to Manchester City in the race for Erling Haaland, Salah would be a top alternative for the club. Any move, however, would depend on the contract negotiations with Liverpool.