John Barnes has warned Mohamed Salah will be taking a major risk if he decides to adopt Kylian Mbappe’s Paris Saint-Germain contract strategy at Liverpool.
Mbappe looked set to leave the French giants this summer after running down his deal at the club, only to perform a last-minute U-turn to end Real Madrid’s hopes of recruiting the 23-year-old forward.
At Liverpool, a similar situation is unfolding as Salah continues to stall over committing his future to the Reds. The Egyptian recently stated he is ‘staying next season for sure’, but what comes after the 2022/23 campaign remains a mystery.
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More and more of the biggest names in football are taking a more conservative approach when it comes to their contracts, with players taking full control of the situation. Kevin De Bruyne became the Premier League’s highest-paid athlete last April, directly representing himself in negotiations with the club to strike a deal worth £385,000 per week.
A compromise from both parties could be required for Salah to remain on Merseyside past 2023, with Barnes reiterating the Reds’ owners, FSG, are unlikely to budge on any deal they deem unreasonable.
Speaking to the ECHO courtesy of William Hill, the ex-Liverpool star said: “In the old days, the club had all the power and now it has maybe gone too far the other way. It’s not a question of players lacking respect, it is simply business.
“If Salah stays this summer, but without renewing at the club, that’s fine. But it depends on what the player does in that season. If they don’t do well or get injured, then what happens? They are taking a risk. It worked out for Mbappe and it could work out for Salah. If Salah says he’s not going to sign and runs his contract down, I’m fine with that as long as he plays with the same determination and intensity.
“From Mbappe’s point of view, he’s 23 and it’s different because he can get to 26 and have another contract. Whereas for Salah and the other forwards at Liverpool, they’re coming up to 30 and this is going to be their last deal. The good thing about it is that the players aren’t in control at Liverpool, the club is. We’re in a good place, just like we were when Wijnaldum left, and there will be no hard feelings between Mo and the club if he goes. If they don’t keep him, it will not be for the want of trying.
“Out of Liverpool’s forwards, Salah is the most likely to go because that’s the hardest contract to sort. I don’t think Mane is necessarily going to play hardball, and it’s the same with Firmino. With Diaz and Jota there as well, that has alleviated our necessity to be held over a barrel. I think we are the first-choice for all of them and that they would rather stay than go anywhere else. It’s probably going to be their last contract offer so they are thinking long and hard about it.”
One of the biggest transfer moves of the summer has already been completed, and the bad news for Liverpool is their main competitors are the side who have significantly strengthened.
Recruiting Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund has left many convinced that City are now firm favourites to seal a third consecutive title triumph next year, having been lacking a killer instinct and presence within the final third.
Whether or not the Norwegian will be a success remains to be seen, though Barnes does not believe Haaland’s arrival should be a cause for concern for Jurgen Klopp’s men as they prepare to go head-to-head for top-flight glory with the Sky Blues once again.
“Liverpool lost two games in the league this season; Haaland is not going to stop Liverpool winning football matches – apart from when they play Man City.
“Manchester City’s problem was never scoring goals. Yes, they’ve signed him but it doesn't mean they're now going to score more goals. If you look at the way we play, someone like Robert Lewandowski would score consistently for us but Mane and Salah wouldn’t score as often. If you have midfield players who score goals, our two wide players wouldn’t score as regularly.
"Haaland may score a lot of goals but, with the way City share it around, they may score fewer goals as a team. Will it change the way they play? Did they need to sign him? I don’t think they necessarily did. That’s not to say he’s not a great player, but how much better can Man City do?”
