07 August 2023 , 09:42
700
0
Mohamed Salah's agent Ramy Abbas has rubbished suggestions the Liverpool star might leave Anfield this summer.
Reds frontman Salah signed a new deal with the club last summer, becoming Liverpool's highest earner. However, amid a big summer of spending from Saudi Pro League clubs, it emerged that he could become the next star name to trade Europe for the Middle East.
Saudi media suggested Al Ittihad might be the ones to pounce, having already added Karim Benzema to their ranks. Just as some Liverpool fans were braced for their club potentially losing another first-teamer, though, Abbas has moved to shut down speculation.
"If we considered leaving LFC this year, we wouldn’t have renewed the contract last summer," Abbas wrote on social media. "Mohamed remains committed to LFC."
The comments appear to draw a line under any suggestions Salah could become the fourth member of the Reds squad to move to the Saudi Pro League this summer. Roberto Firmino joined Al-Ahli upon the expiry of his Reds contract, with Fabinho and Jordan Henderson later completing moves ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
Klopp's dream Liverpool line up as last-gasp January transfers rejected
Fabinho joined Al Ittihad, who won the league last season and have already strengthened considerable. Henderson, meanwhile, has joined former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard at Al Ettifaq.
Who else will leave the Premier League for Saudi Arabia? Have your say in the comments section
Mohamed Salah is expected to stay at Liverpool (Suhaimi Abdullah/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock)“It takes a little bit of time, I think, to renew, but now everything is done so we just need to focus on what’s next," Salah told club media last year after committing his future to the Reds until 2025. "I think you can see in the last five or six years the team was always going [upwards].
"Last season we were close to winning four, but unfortunately in the last week of the season we lost two trophies. I think we are in a good position to fight for everything. We have new signings as well. We just need to keep working hard, have a good vision, be positive and go for everything again.”
The quadruple charge referenced by Salah in those comments wasn't something Liverpool were able to repeat last season. They fell to a fifth-place finish, which means no Champions League football this season, but Salah himself still ended the season with 30 goals in all competitions.
Abbas' comments will be welcome news for Liverpool fans, especially after Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola's words about the Saudi Pro League. City lost Riyad Mahrez this summer, with the Algerian accepting a contract offer from Al-Ahli, and Guardiola said: “Riyad got an incredible offer and that’s why we couldn’t say ‘Don’t do it’."
Salah has been involved in pre-season, scoring for Liverpool in a 4-4 draw with German side Greuther furth. The former Chelsea star is in line to feature against his former club in the Premier League's opening weekend, with Jurgen Klopp's side travelling to Stamford Bridge.