Dr Dan explains Liverpool ‘FFP squeeze’ after Salah contract talks update via Sky
Liverpool will likely go “above and beyond” to hand Mohamed Salah a new deal despite the pressures of financial fair play.
So says finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the Egyptian superstar’s contract situation.
The 29-year-old attacker’s current deal expires in a little over 18 months and discussions are underway over a renewal.
This site revealed on 11 December that Liverpool are optimistic of agreeing new terms with Salah despite his £500,000-a-week wage demands.
Per Sky Sports last Sunday (19 December), Reds boss Jurgen Klopp revealed “really good conversations” were taking place over Salah’s future.
Plumley explains how Liverpool will decide how much they are willing to spend to keep the Merseyside icon on the books.
“There is a lot of factors to be considered,” the Sheffield Hallam University expert told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“You are looking at current and future revenue projections, which are linked to affordability and what you can pay for players.
“That links to current and future projections for on-pitch performance as well.
“We know Liverpool have been really successful with that team to date, and that generates prize money and all the things that come with it.
“There are also current and future wage predictions. You know what you’re paying on wages already, how that’s recorded in the accounts and who is up for renewal.
“Your cost base there is fairly fixed. Within that, it depends whether the club has a ceiling they are not prepared to break.
“There is also wider stuff around FFP and the pandemic, which has put a squeeze on.
“You also have to take the age of the player and the age of the squad around him. Those are the kind of things you’re looking at.
“Salah’s development has been phenomenal. He’s probably the best player in the world at the moment.
“If you remove his goals and assists, where would Liverpool be? That puts an acute pressure on Liverpool and may force them to go above and beyond.”
Salah has an astonishing 22 goals and nine assists in 24 appearances this term.
Liverpool are set to lose him for up to a month during the Africa Cup of Nations between January and February.
In other news, ex-Fifa referee “shudders” over Diogo Jota controversy as Liverpool footage emerges.