Transfer News: Barcelona President Joan Laporta has opened up on Mohamed Salah rumours
Speaking to Rac1 as quoted by Liverpool Echo, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has reaffirmed that ‘top players’ want to join the Catalans but refused to reveal if negotiations were going on with Mohamed Salah as that may create problems.
The Egyptian superstar is yet to renew a new deal with the Merseyside-based club and has turned down all offers until now. The 29-year-old’s contract expires in 2023 and Jurgen Klopp recently admitted that the club ‘cannot do much but wait’ for Salah.
Negotiations are ongoing between Salah’s entourage and the club but no agreement has been reached as of yet. While there is no denying the fact that the Egyptian is arguably Liverpool’s most influential attacker, the fact that he is refusing to commit his future to the Reds will worry Klopp and the fans.
With so much uncertainty surrounding his future at Anfield, it is no surprise that he continues to be linked with moves away from the club come the summer. Barcelona have emerged as contenders to sign the Egyptian with Juventus also supposedly in the fray.
When asked about the Catalan club’s links to Salah and Lewandowski, club president Joan Laporta kept his cards close to his chest but did admit that ‘top players’ want to come to the Camp Nou
“Top players want to join Barca, that’s clear. I can’t say if we’re in talks for Lewandowski and Salah or not – or into the club they’ll tell me that I’m creating problems in the negotiations”
Harsh reality?
Although Laporta did not give much away in his rather cryptic answer, his words are up for anyone’s interpretation.
While it is too early to draw any conclusions, the Salah saga will start worrying the Reds if it continues in the same vein. Without doubt the club’s talisman, losing the Egyptian will be a huge blow for Liverpool.
Salah has been in sensational form this season, arguably the best in the world. He has 28 goals and 10 assists from 36 matches for the Reds and has been instrumental in their success- scoring time and again to keep Liverpool in the hunt for winning four trophies this season.
Liverpool are in the quest for an unprecedented quadruple this season under Jurgen Klopp. They have already secured the Carabao Cup and are involved in a title race with Manchester City in the Premier League. The Cityzens stand in their way to the FA Cup final too and they have two legs to negotiate against Benfica in the Champions League quarter finals.
The last thing the German manager will want is distraction to spoil the momentum that the Reds have kept up since the start of the season. Salah’s contract saga is something that can wait till the summer and right now, football is more important.
Although it is not sure that Salah will leave, it is a possibility in the future. However, as we have seen in the past, it is not a situation that will faze the Reds who similarly saw their best player back then, Philippe Coutinho, also make the switch to Camp Nou.
More Liverpool News
- “It hurt” – 17-year-old Norwegian sensation opens up on rejecting Liverpool
- Transfer News: Liverpool target agrees personal terms with Spanish behemoths
- Transfer News: Liverpool keeping a keen eye on another Porto star after Luis Diaz coup in January
This Salah saga could drag on for a while but Liverpool have bigger things to concentrate on, at the moment. Luis Diaz’s signing this January provides a safety net in case the ex-AS Roma and Fiorentina winger was to leave us in the near future, but replacing a player like Salah is not the easiest task in the world.
