Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes has been called a ‘robot’ who lacks ‘empathy’ in a brutal assessment of Mohamed Salah’s contract talks. The agent of Reds coach Johnny Heitinga is stunned that the Egyptian has not yet been offered an extension.
Rob Jansen has first-hand experience of working with Hughes having negotiated Heitinga’s appointment as assistant to Arne Slot during the summer. The Dutchman was left unimpressed by Hughes’ methods.
He believes that the former defender’s absence of ‘empathy’ could be the reason why there has been little progress over a new deal for Salah.
“One thing Richard Hughes doesn’t have is any sense of empathy. Zero,” Jansen told the KieftJansenEgmondGijp podcast.
“He’s a robot. I know that because I negotiated with him for Heitinga.
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“There’s zero feelings in him. That may well be the reason. Especially with a player like Salah, who has emotion, has a different culture and is sensitive to warmth.”
Jansen is shocked that Liverpool have not done more to persuade Salah to stay, adding: “You would think if you were in that club, that you would text Salah three times a day and send him a bunch of flowers twice a day.”
After scoring the winner in Liverpool’s 3-2 win over Southampton on Sunday, Salah confirmed that there has been no progress over a new contract. Surprisingly, the winger claimed that he has not even been made an offer.
He can begin talks with foreign clubs over a pre-contract agreement from the start of January, which would allow him to leave for free next summer.
“We are almost in December and I haven't received any offers yet to stay in the club. I'm probably more out than in,” Salah said.
“You know I have been in the club for many years. There is no club like this. But in the end it is not in my hands. As I said, it is December and I haven't received anything yet about my future.
“I love the fans. The fans love me. In the end it is not in my hands or the fans' hands.”
Liverpool face three hugely important stars leaving at the end of the season. Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold all have contracts which expire next summer.
Alexander-Arnold has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid. Liverpool will surely want all three to remain at Anfield.
