Jamie Carragher has given his verdict onMohamed Salah’s contract situation and described the forward as “one of the greatest” Liverpool players of all time.
Despite questions over his form in recent weeks , Salah made a blistering start to the season and has notched 28 goals so far this term, making a strong argument to be the best player in the world. However, with his current deal only having just over 12 months remaining, Salah’s ongoing contract talks with the Reds have been the subject of much debate among Liverpool fans and wider footballing circles.
Carragher , though, is confident that his former club will reach an agreement with their talismanic goalscorer. Speaking on Sky Sports, ahead of Liverpool’s top of the table showdown with Manchester City, the Liverpool legend was asked if Salah ’s future was a concern.
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“Yes, it is because he’s a Liverpool legend,” Carragher said . “He’s been one of the greatest players, not just of this generation, that we’ve ever seen in a Liverpool shirt so you want to make sure that he’s tied down for the next three or four years.”
“I still think Mo Salah will sign a new contract. Liverpool is the best place for him, he became a superstar at Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp brings out the best in him. It wouldn't be a sensible move for him to leave.”
After discussing fatigue being a potential issue for Salah, following Egypt’s route to the Africa Cup of Nations Final earlier this year, Carragher was asked by Gary Neville why he was confident that the 29-year-old would stay at Anfield.
For the ex-Red, it is a straightforward solution for both parties.
“ The football he's playing now, he's playing for one of the best managers in the world, one of the best teams in the world, what he's done over the last five years makes him one of the best players to ever wear a Liverpool shirt,” he said. “I just think it would be sad if he were to move on, maybe to a rival in this country, he'd lose his legacy at Liverpool.
“You look at what happened to Fernando Torres going to Chelsea, and I just don't think it would be great for his career. Where could he go that's better than Liverpool right now?”
Having laid out his case for Salah to sign a new deal with the Reds, Carragher was in a lighter mood when discussing the issue with Micah Richards . When the former Manchester City man claimed that Liverpool could afford to accommodate Salah’s demands, Carragher was quick to point out the difference between the two clubs.
He said: “Liverpool are different to Man City, Micah. It’s good money, but it’s not your money! So that’s the big difference, you can’t just write an open cheque.”