Liverpool legend Steve Nicol and pundit Craig Burley believe that the club should accept any big offer for Mohamed Salah
ESPN pundits Steve Nicol and Craig Burley argued that Liverpool should accept any big offer for Mohamed Salah this summer. Pro Saudi League clubs have targeted Salah since the summer of 2023 with a rumoured valuation of over 100 million.
Last season, Salah continued his prolific career at the club but suffered a sudden drop in form which proved costly. The Egypt captain played with a different tactical instruction in Jurgen Klopp’s last Liverpool season to counter the ageing factor.
The 31-year-old stayed wide during the defensive and middle phases in possession while dropping narrow late in the attacking third. Salah relied more on the linkup plays and one-twos with his teammates than attempting to dribble past players.
The change in tactics is due to the slight regression in his pace and agility, failing to make progressive carries. Nevertheless, the 31-year-old scored 25 goals and provided 14 assists in all competitions for Liverpool from 44 appearances last season.
Nicol told the ESPN panel that Liverpool should accept any offer of 100 million for Mohamed Salah during the summer window. He said:
“Mohamed Salah, um listen if you’re going to get 100 million for him, I think you take it”
Agreeing with Nicol and Marciano Vink’s scepticism of Salah under Arne Slot, Burley argued that he is past his prime. He added:
“You sense if you are Liverpool you take, if any big money comes along [for Mohamed Salah], you absolutely snap it up because that’s only going one way now isn’t it, Salah, it’s only going one way, downhill. Alright, unless he’s some freak of mother nature, he’s only going, the numbers are going to go downhill. So if Liverpool are sensible, you take the money and you let him go off and get his payday and the manager moves on with a new signing”
Salah’s failure to finish chances after the March international break coincided with Liverpool’s drastic drop in form with dire consequences. The Reds lost the Premier League title race as well as crashing out of the Europa League competition.
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Last summer, Liverpool rejected a £150 million bid from Al Ittihad, a Saudi Pro League side. The interest from Saudi Arabia has remained strong and Salah has only one year remaining in his current contract. Liverpool cannot afford to lose one of their top assets for free as they operate on a restricted budget and require suitable replacement to stay competitive.