Mohamed Salah: Jurgen Klopp says Egyptian wants to stay and contract talks progressing

Jurgen Klopp says he knows Mohamed Salah wants to stay at Liverpool, insisting contract negotiations with the Egyptian are in a good place.

Salah said in an interview published by GQ this week that he is “not asking for crazy stuff” in contract talks, as he reiterated that it is up to Liverpool to decide his future.

The forward, whose contract at Anfield runs out in the summer of 2023, has stated he wants to stay at Liverpool but the two parties are yet to come to an agreement over a new deal.

“Nowadays it’s dangerous with these interviews when you don’t speak to the player himself,” Klopp said ahead of Thursday’s Carabao Cup visit of Arsenal, live on Sky Sports.

“I know Mo wants to stay, we want Mo to stay. These things take time, but I think all of it is in a good place. I’m very positive about it. The fans are not as nervous as you (the media) are.

“They know the club pretty long, they know the people dealing with the different things here pretty long, so I think it is enough reason to be positive.

“But as long as it is not done, we can’t say anything about it. Good conversations, that’s what I can say.

“There are so many things you have to do in these negotiations. There is a third party, the agent in there as well, but there is nothing to worry about, it is a normal process.

“No one has to worry. It is just the situation. He has a contract here this season and the next season. Really, all fine. It’s not done – that’s why we didn’t get this news – but we have talks.

“That is just the situation, but all fine. He’s a world-class player, great boy, done great stuff for Liverpool and we want to keep him.”

Klopp said he also sees no reason why the forward, currently away at the Africa Cup of Nations, cannot remain at the top level well into his mid-30s like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

“His character, his determination, it’s the way he trains. His attitude, his work-rate is incredible, first in, last out, doing the right stuff.

“You can do some not-so-good things when you are in training and in the gym for a long time but he knows his body, he knows what to do and he is listening to the experts here.

“He tries to improve all the time. He works so hard for the situation he is in now and he will not waste it by doing less.”

Salah wants to stay

At the same time, he wants to stay at Liverpool. He told Sky Sports in October he would like to spend the rest of his career at the club.

“If you ask me, I would love to stay until the last day of my football career, but I can’t say much about that – it’s not in my hands. It depends on what the club want, not on me,” he said.

He has a strong relationship with Jurgen Klopp and he’s settled in the Liverpool dressing room.

Even when linked with Barcelona, while flattered, he said he’s happy at Liverpool and at the moment prefers to stay in the Premier League as it is the strongest league in the world.

But there was a broad hint in that Sky Sports interview he needs to feel the love from the Liverpool hierarchy and he followed that up in an interview with Egypt’s MBC Masr.

Salah reiterated while he wants to extend his Anfield contract, Liverpool’s owners have an issue to solve.

“Your financial value shows how much the club appreciates you and that they are ready to do anything for you to stay,” he said.