Liverpool star Salah's Saudi decision after Mane's cautionary tale

Mohamed Salah has scored three and assisted three goals in Liverpool's opening three matches this season, but the Egyptian King’s future at Anfield is still uncertain.

Salah has been on fire so far and is a big part of the reason why Arne Slot's team hold a perfect record in the Premier League. Despite his obvious importance to the side, Salah’s contract is set to expire at the end of June.

As well as Salah, Liverpool’s captain Virgil van Dijk and vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold are also currently set to leave Anfield when their contracts expire after this season.

Following Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over Manchester United, Salah threw his Liverpool future into further doubt, claiming this could be his final season at Liverpool. Salah has since faced some backlash for the his comments, but there is hope he could remain a Liverpool player beyond this summer.

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Where could Salah go if he were to leave?

Although there was little reported interest in the 32-year-old this summer, his mostly likely destination has appeared to be a Saudi Pro League team. Al-Ittihad had a bid rejected for the Egyptian King in the 2023 summer window and Saudi clubs will likely be able to offer more in wages than any other teams can.

Alongside Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, Salah was part of one of the most iconic attacking trios in Premier League history, a trio that won almost every trophy available to them.

Now, Salah’s former colleagues Firmino and Mane both ply their trade in Saudi Arabia but the Egyptian reportedly isn’t keen to follow them out to the Middle East.

Paul Gorst of the Liverpool ECHO has revealed that Salah may be against a move to the Saudi Pro League and that he would rather stay at Anfield.

“The declining reputation of his former colleague Mane, since his move to the Middle East, has been cited as one reason for why Salah is seemingly against a move to the Saudi Pro League.”

Why would Salah want to stay?

Salah is a fan favourite at Anfield and continues to be one of the best players in the league, as shown by his red-hot start to Liverpool’s Premier League campaign. The league is viewed by many as the best in the world and Salah will feel he still has a lot to offer in England.

In the same report for the ECHO, Gorst says: “The low crowds, a lack of worldwide attention and the overall standard of the game in Saudi Arabia has been, by all accounts, weighed up by Salah against the financial benefits over the last year to reach a decision that he would like to stay a Liverpool player beyond the current deal.”

Salah and Mane enjoyed a friendly rivalry during their time at Liverpool but the Egyptian is still performing at the highest level in the Premier League and the lower standard of the Saudi Pro League could be too big a step down too soon.

Talks are reportedly due to commence soon in an attempt to keep Salah at Liverpool beyond this season and Liverpool supporters will be hopeful that a deal is done so that they can keep their man in Merseyside for as long as possible.