Phillips makes ‘incredible’ Salah claim as Liverpool set date for £117m deal
Kevin Phillips has insisted Jurgen Klopp will be heaping the pressure on Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group as Mohamed Salah’s contract standoff continues.
The former Sunderland striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the Reds should pay the 29-year-old “what he wants”.
A Liverpool source has told Football Insider that FSG want a deal in place within weeks and well ahead of January 1st 2022, when the next transfer window opens.
Salah’s representative, Ramy Abbas, wants a deal worth £500,000-a-week for the forward.
Across four-and-a-half years, the length of the deal the goal machine wants, the Egyptian would receive £117million in wages from the Merseyside club.
After an exquisite hat-trick against rivals Man United last week, Salah failed to strike in order to prolong his record of netting in 10 consecutive matches.
The former Roma sensation has scored 15 goals in 13 matches across all competitions this season.
Phillips insisted Liverpool icon Salah is arguably “the best player in the world” after taking his finishing to “another level” this term.
“They have to pay him what he wants, within reason – it’s as simple as that,” he told Football Insider.
“He’s arguably the best player in the world at the moment.
“No one can get near him, no one can touch him.
“His finishing has been incredible; he’s taken that to another level – it’s amazing to watch.
“If I’m Jurgen Klopp then I’m telling the Liverpool owners to get him signed up on a long-term deal.”
The 29-year-old has scored a whopping 140 goals in 216 games for Liverpool since joining in 2017.
In addition to his strike record, Salah has assisted six times in the Premier League this term – the second most of any player.
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