Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah dropped a huge hint that the 2024-25 season could be his last at Anfield after his sensational display in Sunday's 3-0 Premier League win over Manchester United.
It is no secret that the 32-year-old is in the final year of his contract with Arne Slot's side, and the financial powerhouses of the Saudi Pro League have been relentlessly pursuing his signature for some time.
Liverpool turned down a £150m offer from Al-Ittihad for Salah last summer, but they did not receive any serious bids for the attacker this time around, in spite of his uncertain contract situation.
Nevertheless, the ex-Chelsea and Roma man remains as crucial as ever to the Reds' attack, and he scored for the seventh game in a row at Old Trafford in Sunday's trouncing of Man United.
After providing two first-half assists for Luis Diaz, Salah capitalised on another Man United mistake to score for the 10th time at the Theatre of Dreams, equalling a record set by Alan Shearer in the process.
© Imago
Salah: 'I play this season as if it is my last with Liverpool'
The Egypt international has now become just the second player to score 10 goals at a single Premier League away ground, after Shearer hit double figures at Leeds United's Elland Road.
During his post-match interview with Sky Sports News, the topic of Salah's contract inevitably came up, and the 32-year-old raised a few eyebrows with his response to whether he has played at Old Trafford for the last time.
"I had a good summer and had a long time to myself to try to stay positive because as you know it's my last year at the club. I just want to enjoy it and I don't want to think about it. I feel like I'm free to play football and then we'll see what happens next year," Salah said.
"I was coming to the game today thinking it could be the last time. Nobody at the club has spoken to me yet about a new contract so I just play this last season and then see at the end of the season.
"So far, we don't know with which club, but so far yeah my last game here with Liverpool. It's not up to me but nobody talk to me about a contract with the club. We'll see."
Could Liverpool really let Salah leave for free?
© Imago
Only Salah knows what he really meant with his intriguing post-match comments - he could have simply been referring to being in the last year of his contract, or there may have been a deeper, more revealing underlying message.
If it is the latter, Fenway Sports Group and Liverpool could be left with egg on their face next summer if Salah really does walk out of the door for nothing after rejecting a staggering £150m offer for the winger in 2023.
Such a situation would resemble the Kylian Mbappe saga, where Paris Saint-Germain knocked back offers worth more than £100m from Real Madrid for the Frenchman in 2021, only to see him eventually join Los Blancos for free.
Yes, Salah may not be getting any younger, but the 32-year-old is known for keeping his body in incredible shape all year round, and his early-season exploits are evidence of his admirable dedication to the regime.
As such, it would be a huge shock if Liverpool did not at least offer Salah a one or two-year extension in the coming months, although sporting director Richard Hughes also has his hands full with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk's prospective renewals.
Ben Knapton
