Mohamed Salah‘s agent has denied rumours that he would demand a summer exit if Liverpool misses out on the Champions League next year.
The Reds have had a difficult season, which has left them in seventh position in the Premier League standings. They will likely lose out on a spot in Europe’s top tournament.
The Reds’ 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace on Saturday night put them nine points behind the Lilywhites. However, they do have two games in hand on fourth-place Tottenham Hotspur.
Liverpool are still in the running to make it to the final of this year’s Champions League. But they have opened the exit doors after falling 5-2 to holders Real Madrid in the first leg last week.
According to a story published earlier on Monday, Salah would be open to leaving Anfield if Jurgen Klopp’s team didn’t qualify for the 2023–24 Champions League.
Ramy Abbas Issa (Salah’s agent) said that the pair have never once addressed the idea of Liverpool finishing outside the top four and called the rumours “nonsense” on social media.
Salah’s agent denies Liverpool exit rumours
Abbas Issa wrote on Twitter:
“Nonsense. This was never discussed or thought about. Not qualifying to the Champions League hasn’t even crossed our minds.”
Although Salah’s long-term prospects may not be affected by European qualification, the Egyptian international is turning 31 this year and has had a little less productive season regarding goals scored.
In 35 games in all competitions, Salah still has a respectable 19 goals and nine assists to his name. But only eight of those goals have come in 23 Premier League appearances.
In addition, the former Chelsea player hasn’t scored in his previous eight Premier League contests. And Liverpool isn’t exactly lacking in options in the final third.
Further available to Klopp are Jota, Nunez, Gakpo, Firmino, Carvalho, and Luis Diaz. Although the latter has missed the last four months due to a knee injury.
Salah’s contract was extended last year through 2025. But Liverpool are still reportedly open to summer offers for the midfielder with at least one high-priced midfielder on the table.
Paris Saint-Germain are apparently interested in signing the 30-year-old. He will serve as a potential replacement for Lionel Messi. While Messi is likely to be leaning towards leaving the Ligue 1 champions when his contract expires this summer,
Salah has 175 goals and 72 assists in 289 games while wearing a Liverpool jersey. And with his first goal against Real Madrid last week, he surpassed Steven Gerrard as the club’s all-time leading scorer in Europe.
The Egyptian presently has 126 goals, three short of breaking Robbie Fowler’s long-standing record of 128 for most Premier League goals scored by a Liverpool player.
When Liverpool hosts Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield on Wednesday night, Salah may match or top Fowler’s record. Although his current form indicates that the Egyptian is far from doing so.
