Mohamed Salah on Liverpool contract situation: 'I'm probably more ...

Mohamed Salah says he has yet to receive a formal contract offer from Liverpool as he admits “I’m probably more out than in (next summer).”

The forward’s current deal expires at the end of the season and his future is increasingly uncertain.

Salah, who has scored 223 goals in 367 games for Liverpool since arriving from Roma in 2017, could sign a pre-contract agreement with a club overseas from January 1.

“We are almost in December and I haven’t received any offers yet to stay in the club. I’m probably more out than in,” he told reporters following his match-winning double in Sunday’s 3-2 victory at Southampton.

“You know I have been in the club for many years. There is no club like this. But in the end it is not in my hands. As I said before, it is December and I haven’t received anything yet about my future.

“I love the fans. The fans love me. In the end it is not in my hands or the fans’ hands. Let’s wait and see.”

Asked if he was disappointed that he hadn’t received an offer at this stage, he added: “Of course, yeah. I’m not going to retire soon so I’m just playing, focusing on the season and I’m trying to win the Premier League and hopefully the Champions League as well. I’m disappointed but we will see.”

Senior Anfield sources insist that discussions with Salah’s representative Ramy Abbas have been positive and remain ongoing.

It was a situation that sporting director Richard Hughes inherited following his appointment earlier this year with captain Virgil van Dijk and vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold also out of contract next summer.

Salah’s age, his status as Liverpool’s highest paid player and the club’s need to plan for the future meant that a swift resolution was always unlikely.

The 32-year-old has been heavily linked with a lucrative move to the Saudi Pro League in recent years. Liverpool turned down a £150million bid from Al-Ittihad in 2023 but Salah refused to be drawn on the ongoing interest from Saudi.

“I don’t want to speak about that. I am focused with the team now,” he said.

GO DEEPER

‘I'm more out than in’: What Salah's latest comments mean for his Liverpool future

Salah’s preference is to remain at the highest level in Europe and he is showing no signs of slowing down. He has provided 12 goals and 10 assists in 18 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions this season.

“I’m very professional. Everybody can see my work ethic,” he said.

“I’m just trying to enjoy my football and I will play at the top level as long as possible. I’m just doing my best because this is who I am and I try to give it all for myself and for the club. We will see what happens next.”

A hard-fought victory at St Mary’s extended Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points to ensure momentum was maintained going into a crunch week. Wednesday’s Champions League home clash with Real Madrid is followed by next Sunday’s visit of Manchester City to Anfield.

“We were not at our best but it’s an important win. After the other international breaks we struggled against (Nottingham) Forest and Chelsea. I’m glad that we managed to win after being 2-1 down,” Salah added.

“I’m just playing my game. trying to chill and relax and just play. The whole team has the chemistry now with the new manager. Hopefully we keep winning and win something in the end.”

(Top photo: Michael Steele/Getty Images)

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James Pearce joins the Athletic after 14 years working for the Liverpool Echo. The dad-of-two has spent the past decade covering the fortunes of Liverpool FC across the globe to give fans the inside track on the Reds from the dressing room to the boardroom. Follow James on Twitter @JamesPearceLFC