Mo Salah told close friends he was going to commit his future to Liverpool – only to perform a major about-turn after Barcelona promised to take him to the Nou Camp in summer 2023.
The Egypt superstar is agonising over his next move with his contract at his current club expiring in 12 months’ time.
Liverpool have been locked in talks since last summer over an extension to his deal but have so far been unable to strike an agreement.
Salah is looking for a major payrise but the Reds are reluctant to break their wage structure.
If the parties cannot come to an agreement and the Premier League giants hold on to him for the upcoming season, they risk losing him for nothing in a year’s time.
That will cue a transfer frenzy but it’s being reported by our sister site, the Daily Mirror, Salah has been told by Barcelona they want him in Catalunya next summer.
It’s understood Barca’s vow is a major factor in the forward stalling on a new Liverpool contract – despite the 29-year-old informing his circle he was ready to sign an extension with the Scousers.
Salah insisted he will be at Anfield next season before their Champions League Final heartbreak to Real Madrid. He said: "In my mind, I don't focus on the contract. I don't want to be selfish at all. I said two months ago it's about the team. It's an important week for us.
"I'm just focused on the team and winning the Champions League again. I want to see Hendo [Jordan Henderson] with the trophy in their hands and hopefully he gives it to me. I don't want to talk about the contract now, I'm staying next season for sure, that's clear."
Liverpool will hope Jurgen Klopp's recent contract extension - that keeps the German in the Anfield dugout until at least 2026 - will help convince Salah and Sadio Mane - who is in the exact same situation as his teammate - to commit their future to the Reds.
But Klopp doesn't think it will be a deciding factor. "That is more a question for the boys, what it exactly means for them but all fine, my relationship with them is great,” he said.
"My point is in life there are more important things to think about, not only who is the manager but knowing who the manager and coaching staff is is an important thing because when you know what you have with other clubs where you could go, you don’t know exactly.
"There is no 100 per cent in this business but I think it is pretty likely I will stay for a little bit longer because other coaches are there at other clubs.
"If it is a positive sign for the boys, great, but I don’t think this will be the one decisive thing for whatever decision they want to make. It is their own life but we just wanted to guarantee that everyone who wants to be here knows what he can expect."
