How Liverpool's Mohamed Salah could join Barcelona: Reports say Blaugrana eyeing Egypt star as Haaland replacement

George Priestman

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How Liverpool's Mohamed Salah could join Barcelona: Reports say Blaugrana eyeing Egypt star as Haaland replacement image

Mohamad Salah has been one of the best players in the world this season, but Liverpool fans have a cause for concern over the Egyptian's future, as he still hasn't agreed a new deal at the club.

The current Premier League top scorer has rejected all of the club's offers for a new and improved contract.

This saga has rumbled on for over 12 months now, and the current issue could be a potential distraction as Liverpool mount their challenge for multiple trophies from now until the end of the season.

The tug-of-war currently being played by Salah, his agent, and the club has lent itself to potential transfers to other clubs. Barcelona are the latest to target the forward.

Barcelona want Salah: Here's why he'd be a fit

Salah would be a perfect signing for them to springboard back to being one of the best sides in Europe. The statement signing would help them combat against the inevitable signing of Kylian Mbappe by arch-rivals Real Madrid.

Barcelona could offer Salah the incredibly high wages that he clearly seeks, and the pull of Barcelona is a very tough one to resist.

Currently, Dortmund forward Erling Haaland is a major target for the Spanish side, with manager Xavi very keen on the Norwegian forward. However, he is linked with a move to Real Madrid and most recently Manchester City, who've been rumoured to have agreed a deal ahead of this summer. Salah would be a perfect alternative to the forward if they do miss out on the Dortmund frontman.

Lastly, Barcelona lack that real quality in the right wing position. Whilst Adama Traore has had a bright start after re-signing for the club, Salah would completely elevate the side to another level. Salah would help balance out their team, score goals, and bring that star appeal that is currently missing from the side. 

 

Salah contract at Liverpool: Latest updates

The latest in the contract saga is that Salah is contracted until the summer of 2023, meaning that clubs will be able to sign a 'pre-contract' with the forward in January 2023 if a contract deal has not been agreed by then. 

No player is bigger than the club, but the owners of Liverpool Football Club, Fenway Sports Group (FSG) will not bow to the demands of the player, leading to more speculation on what will happen to the player. 

He currently earns £200,000 a week, and his form over the past 18 months warrants an increase for sure. Reports claim no talks have taken place since December, with Salah's agent Ramy Abbas Issa making it clear he will not come back to the negotiating table, and Salah will not sign a new contract unless improved terms are received.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp's latest comments were met with a tweet from Abbas, which seemed to mock the German when he took to Twitter, something he is known for doing, to react to the comments from Klopp's press conference before the away game at Brighton last week. 

"We cannot do much more, that's how it is. But I don't think it's about that. It's Mo's decision pretty much. The club did what the club can do. That's how it is."

The post came around 80 minutes after Klopp's pre-match press conference had come to an end. Inevitably this angered Liverpool fans on social media, as the latest stance seems to be that Salah is waiting for an improvement in his current deal, and until then, the situation will carry on and the rumours will only intensify. 

Would Liverpool transfer Salah? 

Liverpool are no strangers to selling some of their biggest stars. Over the years their star players have all moved on for big transfer fees, with Barcelona involved on more than one occasion.

The likes of Luis Suarez, Philippe Coutinho and Fernando Torres have all been sold despite being star players at the club. However, the combined sales of those three players totalled over £250m in sales. 

If the contract situation isn't sorted out with Salah, the club may be open to offers, as it's unlikely the club is going to break the tight-knit wage structure it currently operates with for one player. 

With clubs such as PSG and Barcelona capable of paying Salah what Liverpool can't, he may move on -- and Liverpool might be powerless to stop him from doing so.

PSG's latest reports claim Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Lionel Messi could all leave in the summer, with Mbappe reportedly already signing a deal with Madrid for the summer. This could leave the French side with a superstar-shaped hole to fill, and Salah would be a perfect fit.

They also won't want to lose the player for free in the summer of 2023 if they don't agree a deal, so at the current time, there is a real possibility of Salah leaving the club with which he has become a superstar. 

George Priestman