The Anfield legend is in the final year of his contract and believes this will be his final season on Merseyside. Following his stunning display in Sunday’s 3-0 win at Manchester United, he revealed no-one at the club has spoken to him over a potential new deal.
Salah, 32, who has been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League, looks as good as ever and has been tipped to play on until his late-30s. That theory is shared by Diaz, who outlined how difficult it would be to replace Salah.
Diaz told Telemundo: "It would be hard for us, it would be hard for Liverpool. It's going to hurt us a lot. He still has a year to think about it, it's not easy. He always gives his very best.
"He has done it from the start. It would be very hard to lose a key player like him. It's his decision and we respect that, but I hope he doesn't leave."
Salah, who arrived at Liverpool from Roma way back in 2017, told Sky Sports on Sunday that he was treating the game as if it was his last at Old Trafford. He said: “I was coming to the game, I was saying, 'look, it could be the last time'."
Luis Diaz has spoken openly about his team-mate's future
He added: "Nobody in the club talked to me yet about contracts so I was just like, 'OK, I play my last season and see at the end of the season'. I feel I am free to play football – we will see what happens next year.”
While there have no talks over a new deal for Salah so far, Liverpool are reportedly planning to open discussions with a view to extending his stay into next season at least, by which time he will be 33. The delay over talks is said to be related to the club wanting to allow new boss Arne Slot a settling-in period.
But following such a strong start under the Dutchman and with the first international break of the season underway, some longer-term planning can take place. And talks with Salah could begin within a matter of weeks.
0 Comments