Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah's confirmation that he will be a Reds player next season is 'huge' news for the club, according to journalist David Maddock.
The Lowdown: Salah speaks out
The future of the 29-year-old is one of the main talking points among Kopites at the moment, with no new deal signed with the Reds as things stand.
Salah's current Liverpool contract expires at the end of next season, at which point he could leave for free, but on Wednesday he publicly stated that he would be at Anfield in 2022/23.
That means he won't be leaving this summer, which will come as a huge relief to many Reds fans, although it remains to be seen whether or not he will extend his stay beyond the end of his current contract.
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The Latest: Maddock reacts to Salah news
Taking to Twitter, Maddock claimed that this is a massive moment for Liverpool, believing that it hints at Salah possibly signing a new deal over the next 12 months..
Sharing a corresponding report for The Mirror, the journalist stated: "Real bombshell this from Salah - no one expecting him to confirm he's staying next season. Could be a clever move, as it surely strengthens his hand in contract talks...and suggests he believes deal will be struck. FAR MORE details here...on what could be huge moment for #LFC."
The Verdict: Strong bargaining position
As Maddock has claimed, this could put Salah in a strong position in terms of negotiating a new deal, making it very clear that he could leave for free instead of for big money this summer.
There are clearly a few stumbling blocks regarding the contract being sorted but the hope is that all parties will eventually agree and that the Egyptian will sign for another few years.
He is already an undisputed Liverpool legend, but if he stays put for another four or five years and continues his extraordinary brilliance, he could end up rivalling the likes of Sir Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard as the club's greatest-ever player, having already scored 156 goals in 253 Reds appearances.
Therefore, it's no wonder that Maddock has dubbed this a potentially "huge" development for the Merseyside club.
In other news, a pundit has made a key claim over another Liverpool star's future. Read more here.