Mohamed Salah has allayed concerns that the Champions League final could be his last game with Liverpool, insisting he will not leave this summer.
Liverpool’s top scorer was left without a contract in 2023 and talks over an overtime that would make him the highest paid player in club history have dragged on for months without resolution. The Egyptian international has been linked with transfers to Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid on Saturday if Liverpool decide to charge a player who could leave for free in 12 months this summer.
The 29-year-old, however, has said he will not go anywhere before the deal expires, although he declined to detail whether there was an extension.
Speaking on the day of the Liverpool Champions League final, Salah said: “In my opinion, I am not concentrating on the contract at the moment. I do not want to be selfish. I said two months ago that now It’s the team, it’s a very important week for us, so I’m just focused on the team.
“I want to win the Champions League again. I want to see Hendo [Jordan Henderson] with the trophy again and I hope he gives it to me later. I’m focused on the team and I don’t want to talk about my contract, but I’m sure I’ll stay next season. “
Sadio Mané is another Liverpool striker who is close to the last 12 months of his contract and is on the list of possible substitutes for Bayern Munich in case Robert Lewandowski leaves this summer as expected. Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group wants to keep Mané and Salah, but the Senegalese international wants to wait until after Saturday’s final in Paris to announce his decision.
“Whether I stay or not, I will say it after the Champions League,” Mané said.
Jürgen Klopp remains relaxed about the contract negotiations and believes that the outcome of the Champions League final will not affect the decisions of the players. The Liverpool coach said: “No, not at all. We are in talks with all the players but now is not the time to talk about it. There is just no time. We play every three days. The players have this idea, we we have that idea and sometimes they agree. But we’ve known each other for a long time. “
Fabinho said: “I’m ready” after losing Liverpool’s last three games with a hamstring injury. Photo: Peter Powell / EPA
Liverpool could have a full squad on Saturday although Thiago Alcântara suffered an Achilles problem in the Premier League final against the Wolves. The midfielder did not take part in an open training session, but Klopp said Thiago was still in contention.
“A good opportunity,” he said of Thiago’s prospects. “He will be training this afternoon, he has done some things this morning. He was not expected to do this session with the players and at the moment it looks like he can be part of tomorrow’s training. That would be very useful, obviously. It is surprisingly good news. .
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“After the game it wasn’t positive, but that night we already received news that it didn’t look so bad. We will see. We just have to make sure we do the right thing at the right time and we will try. “
Fabinho has resumed training after missing the last three games due to a hamstring injury. “I’m ready,” he said when asked about the final. Virgil van Dijk, who has not played since the FA Cup final, and Joe Gomez, who injured an ankle in the penultimate game of the league season at Southampton, are also back in full training.