Pundit makes £155m Liverpool transfer claim after update on Salah contract talks
Liverpool would have to spend at least £155million in transfer fees and wages to replace Mohamed Salah amid contract talks, according to Alan Hutton.
The former Scotland defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the Reds should give the 29-year-old whatever he wants to tie him down.
As revealed by Football Insider on Saturday (11 December), Liverpool are increasingly hopeful of agreeing contract terms with Salah, despite his £500,000-a-week wage demands.
An Anfield source told this site negotiations are “tricky” and at a “delicate stage” but there is hope a compromise can be reached.
With Salah wanting a four-and-a-half-year deal, his £500,000-a-week demands would make the deal worth £117million.
However, Hutton suggested signing a replacement would cost around £38million more in total.
Hutton told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “It’s a lot of money but I would just give him it, personally.
“Yes, he’s 29 but he’s in the form of his life. As long as he keeps it up, he looks like the type of guy that would continue even if he did sign a lucrative deal. It’s not going to affect him.
“You go and spend £90million on a forward-thinking player, then you need to give him £250,000-a-week for five years. It’s even more.
“You’ve got a guy that’s got incredible numbers since he’s been there. He loves the club, knows what it’s all about. Why would you not just give him it?
“Sign him down to a long-term deal, move on and let him enjoy his football. That’s how I look at it. He’s an incredible player.
“How he ended up seventh in the Ballon d’Or, I’ll never know. He’s really set it alight this year. Give him what he wants.”
Salah’s current contract at Anfield runs until 2023.
He has scored 21 goals in 22 appearances across all competitions this season.
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