Mo Salah hands Richard Hughes another £20m problem to solve

One of the biggest storylines from Liverpool’s 2024/25 Premier League-winning season concerned the contract fate of Mohamed Salah.

The Egyptian King’s terms were due to expire in summer 2025 - and he had no shortage of interest from elsewhere. He contributed to 47 goals in the top flight - 29 goals and 18 assists - putting in arguably the greatest individual season in Premier League history.

Therefore the club and its supporters were ecstatic when the 33-year-old put pen to paper on a new deal. Now tied to Anfield until 2027, it seems like Salah will have a chance to go close to the goalscoring records he hasn’t yet achieved.

But there were certain eyebrows raised when it was revealed that Salah’s renewal would cost Liverpool £400k per week or just over £20m per annum.

Salah's eye-watering wages

There cannot be many 33-year-old wingers out there making that kind of money in this day and age - at least not outside Saudi Arabia.

Richard Hughes was content to take the gamble however that Salah’s form would hold.

Only it’s not worked out like that. Although the two-time African player of the year has scored four Premier League goals in 11 games this season - not a bad return - the truth is that he doesn’t look like the same player.

Salah is struggling for involvement in Liverpool’s general play across 90 minutes and undertakes the majority of his off-the-ball work with sluggishness.

Liverpool are facing up to the prospect of paying £400k per week to Salah up to his 35th birthday.

Salah has got huge demands placed upon him

And the next few months are really going to take it out of him. Not only does he have a full programme of Premier League and Champions League football to contend with - he’s also got to play TWO major international tournaments for Egypt.

December represents what may be Salah’s final attempt to win the Africa Cup of Nations and next summer he is due to captain the Pharaohs in the FIFA World Cup.

That places an unbelievable strain on Salah’s body and mind - meaning he will be without any significant break before starting the 2025/26 season for the Reds.

It’s alarming that Liverpool head coach Arne Slot doesn’t feel right now he’s got another right winger to relieve the burden on Salah.

Should Liverpool cash their Salah chips?

Jeremie Frimpong has given it a go but doesn’t appear robust enough at this stage.

So what are Liverpool going to do? Well according to reports there is a possibility of the Saudi Pro League making another attempt to woo Salah in summer 2026.

It’s no secret that he has been heavily pursued over the last few years by the Saudi government-operated clubs. He would make around £150m per year if he moved to the Kingdom - only he would be sacrificing his record-breaking Liverpool dreams to go there.

And Liverpool would do well to consider any offer at this stage. They would bank a transfer fee - maybe something in the region of £50m given Salah’s profile - and also relieve themselves of his budget-draining wages.

It’s a terrible way to think about Salah - who will go down in my book as the greatest player in Liverpool’s modern history. But every player has got a shelf-life.

And Salah will surprise everybody if he turns this around. Liverpool cannot afford to go into next season with Salah as their undisputed pick on the right side of the attack.

The upcoming burdens on him are too big. Maybe the right thing to do is cash in their chips - and move on with a Michael Olise or an Antoine Semenyo.

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