As per 90min, a concerning contract update has come to light regarding Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah.
The lowdown: The wait goes on
Despite all parties seemingly being at the table for some time, speculation continues to rumble on as to whether or not the 29-year-old will sign a new deal to remain at the club, having arrived from AS Roma in 2017.
Now into the final 18 months of a deal on Merseyside, Salah has already been linked with a sensational move to Barcelona in recent weeks, and the off-field discourse has seemingly impacted his on-field output as the usually lethal winger has failed to score from open play since netting against Norwich City in mid-February.
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However, perhaps unsurprisingly given his extraordinary goal return over the last five years, the club remain desperate to tie down the Egyptian King to a fresh contract.
The latest: Salah and Liverpool 'some way apart'
According to 90min's sources, Salah and Liverpool have been in discussions for 'more than a year' without a tangible breakthrough.
The report claims that the Reds' owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) are 'willing' to make the 82-cap Egypt star the highest-paid player at Anfield, but there is a 'reluctance' to pitch him amongst the best earners in the Premier League.
Furthermore, it is stated that the parties are still 'some way apart' in their negotiations as Salah attempts to earn a pay rise on a current £200,000-per-week salary (Spotrac).
The verdict: Just get it done
Of all the important decisions facing the club over the upcoming months and years, securing the services of the £90m-valued superstar is perhaps the most important alongside Jurgen Klopp's own future beyond 2024.
Prior to recent struggles, the man hailed as 'extraordinary' by Ian Wright following a lightning-quick start to the 2021/22 campaign had been one of the leading lights in world football and remains pivotal to Liverpool's trophy success this term and beyond.
Despite suffering a recent dip, so far this season Salah has scored 28 times and provided another 10 assists in 38 appearances - levels of output which make the potential completion of a new deal a salient moment in the Reds' future at the very top table.
In other news, three Liverpool players in particular stood out against Benfica. Read more here.