Liverpool may be preparing themselves for the eventuality of losing Mohamed Salah on a free transfer next summer. But the Reds can at least console themselves with the prospect of never facing him as an opponent in the Premier League.
Salah has only nine months remaining on his contract at Anfield and his future looks far from certain, with Liverpool yet to offer their star forward a contract extension. The forward admitted on Sunday it could be his "last year" with the Merseyside outfit.
The Egyptian star, a £34million signing from Roma in 2017, has proved to be one of the club's most lethal foreign exports with 214 goals in 352 appearances.
Related articles
Such is the mutual adoration between the club's fanbase and Salah, he previously stated that he would like to retire at the club when faced with doubts over his future three years ago. And he vowed that he couldn't imagine himself pulling on the kit of another team in England if he was forced to leave.
"If you ask me, I would love to stay until the last day of my football career, but I can't say much about that - it's not in my hands," Salah told Sky Sports in 2021.
"At the moment I can't see myself ever playing against Liverpool. That would make me sad. It's hard, I don't want to talk about it, but it would make me really sad.”
In the end, Salah signed a new three-year contract worth a reported £350,000 a week, making him the club's highest-paid player by some margin.
Liverpool have since fielded huge transfer offers for the winger, having turned down a £150million bid from Al-Ittihad in the summer of 2023. But that could prove to be an error in judgement as Salah's contract runs down.
He will be free to sign a pre-agreement from January 1 with foreign clubs and, with no renewal offer on the table just yet, the 32-year-old could depart after a glorious eight-year spell at the club.
Despite his advancing years suggesting his best days are behind him, Salah continues to defy his critics and he has contributed to six goals (three goals, three assists) in just three games this season.
However, his comments after the 3-0 win over Manchester United indicate it may be his final season at Anfield.
"I had a good summer, I had a long time to stay with myself and to think positive because as you know it's my last year in the club," Salah told Sky Sports.
"I just want to enjoy it and I don't want to think about it. But I feel I'm free to play football and we'll see what can happen next year.
"To be fair, I was coming to the game and I said, 'it could be my last time'. The club have not talked to me yet so I will play my last season and see at the end of the season."
