Liverpool legend Michael Owen has revealed that he is expecting an imminent announcement over the future of current Reds star Mohamed Salah.
Salah has enjoyed a remarkably good season, even by his incredibly high standards, scoring 27 goals and notching 10 assists in all competitions to fire his side on a Premier League title charge.
Jurgen Klopp’s men sit six points behind leaders Manchester City, but have a game in hand over Pep Guardiola’s side as they look to secure their second title in three years.
But there is a problem bubbling under the surface at Anfield, as Salah’s contract will enter its final year when the current campaign ends, with the Egyptian continuing to negotiate over a new deal.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Do you think Mohamed Salah will stay at Liverpool beyond the end of next season? Comment below.
Despite reports of the two sides being apart in their negotiations, Owen believes that Salah will ultimately stay at Anfield.
“I would be surprised, I must admit, if Mohamed Salah left. Why wouldn’t he stay? He’ll be getting a great offer,” Owen told the Liverpool Echo.
“Yes, it’s his main contract of his life really. This is when he has been absolutely at the peak of his powers and it’s his last big contract probably.
“You can understand that everything needs to be right on both sides. But when I was in that situation, we were coming third, fourth, fifth, sixth or whatever in the league.
“There were other teams who could offer you something, like a Real Madrid or a Barcelona, because we weren’t winning the league every year.
“But where would you go now? There is nobody bigger than Man City or Liverpool at the moment.”
And it is those lack of alternative options that has convinced Owen that an announcement will come soon that Salah will be signing a new contract.
“He’s certainly not going to go to anyone in the UK. Barcelona and Real Madrid aren’t currently the force of old,” Owen added.
“Paris Saint-Germain I can’t imagine, why would you want to go to the French league when you’re playing in the Premier League? The same goes for Germany. There is nowhere else.
“Every player is queuing up to come to Liverpool and Man City at the minute. If you’re there, I don’t know why you’d give it up.
“I certainly can’t see any reason why he won’t say and I’d be surprised if there wasn’t an announcement soon.”
Salah is also likely to catch Owen in Liverpool’s all-time scoring charts before the current campaign ends.
And the former England international believes that his rival in that leaderboard will only continue to excel.
“He has been phenomenal at Liverpool and just got better and better and better,” Owen, who has scored six more goals than Salah said.
“He has been part of an amazing team, yes, but he has been one of the reasons why it is an amazing team.
“Absolutely brilliant, I can’t speak highly enough of him. He’s dedicated, he’s fit all the time, he’s got a great attitude in terms of he wants to play every game. I think the world of him.”
