Pundit fears ‘massive fallout’ at Liverpool as Salah-PSG move mooted
Kevin Phillips has warned Liverpool are facing a “huge” fan backlash as Mohamed Salah’s contract standoff continues.
The former Sunderland striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the Reds won’t want to be “held to ransom” by the 29-year-old.
As reported by the Telegraph on Thursday (13 January), Liverpool are currently unwilling to meet Salah’s salary demands.
This site revealed last year (25 October) that the winger wants wages of £500,000-a-week and a contract until 2026.
When asked about the possibility of fan backlash if Salah were to walk away from Liverpool, Phillips told Football Insider‘s Dylan Childs: “100%, there would be massive fallout.
“If you want to challenge for titles and Champions League trophies, then you don’t let your best player leave.
“I know that Liverpool won’t want to be held to ransom by Salah, and I understand that. But there has to be some common ground met and a compromise reached.
“There would be huge backlash if he were to leave and join someone like PSG. I think where Liverpool have got themselves to over the last four to five years, there’s no way they should be letting their best players leave.“
Salah told GQ on Tuesday (11 January) that he is not asking for “crazy stuff” in negotiations, insisting the situation is in the club’s hands.
His current contract expires in 2023.
Salah is currently on international duty at the African Cup of Nations.
He has scored 23 goals in 26 Liverpool games this term and leads the Premier League scoring charts.
In other news, pundit predicts Liverpool signing their own Kevin De Bruyne as £25m offer reported.