Topic: Mohamed Salah - Best in the World *

[Rush 82]

Excellent news, just excellent.

End of the media circus and speculation.

Most importantly (for me), is that it will have the opposite effect to what happened when Suarez left - the season before he left opposition teams were terrified when they saw his name on the teamsheet - when he left at the end of that season it removed a psychological and physical edge that we had - with Mo staying, it's reversed - every other team is going "oh fuck, him again for the next couple of years" - I'm hoping that it means that the teams below us feel defeated before the game starts and we can concentrate all our energies on beating those teams around us who managed to hold us to draws.

[buttersstotch]

A welcome news that will avoid the circus around Salah and the club next season. But that's all. I'm in the mindset that Salah was always going to stay this season and leave the next summer, and that hasn't necessarily changed much, but at least the club will get paid if that's to happen. The three years are strangely telling. The club was never going to pay for a huge contract over 4-5 years, and if the reports are correct they would be paying what was said earlier, so that's great. Salah could have gone to Barce, Real, PSG, or wherever next summer, but no other team would suit his game better, and his best chance of winning Ballon d'Or is with us; he must have recognized that. Weirdly enough, no one came knocking on the door for him this summer (I was expecting that there will be inquiries at least), so the green of the grass on the other side of the fence started to fade out, I think. In the end, I think this new contract is good for all parties. And I wouldn't be shocked if he decides to move on next summer or (even better for us) the summer in 2024.

Just give me the pre-AFCON Mo this season.

Either sell him for a fee in 2 years time, or he goes on a free transfer at the end of his contract. Or we extend him again, but at that point I suspect he will go somewhere for one lastg big payday for a couple of years. Seemed he always wanted to stay and the club wanted him to stay as well - still not entirely sure what the sticking point was. Either way I am glad this is sorted & all speculation is put to bed.

[Ghost Town]

So FSG's wage ceiling is totally broken

How now? LOL

No.

The club have taken the step of declaring that their wage structures haven't been compromised and that Mo has totally brought into the incentivised structure - because he knows he's boss and will do unbelievable things and earn some or all of the incentives, in which case we all win.

Yeah they could be lying through their teeth to cover up craven acquiescence; or, maybe, you know, they could be telling the truth being as that's the position they have unvaryingly held throughout.

The figure quoted, even assuming there's any truth to it because I doubt Mo or his agent, or FSG, have been handing out copies of his contract (seriously, figures reported in the media are usually guesswork) will be incentivised. The headline figures are what he will get IF he fulfils all the incentivised targets. Which means he scores a shitload of goals and we win shitloads of games and trophies.

Really need to get a grip on this otherwise within weeks there will be a new load of untrue "established facts" about him.

[Alf]

Pleased this is done & dusted. Salah is in excellent condition for a 30 year old & the longer this went on, the more this cloud would hang over us next season.

[Heritage]

I take it we're confirmed he's on 350k? I'm fine with that if so. I think anything higher than that and we'd have more worries about our other world beaters. A little surprised we couldn't get 325k but I wouldn't be shocked if his agent was hard balling us and probably started well north of 400k.

[JackWard33]

No.

The club have taken the step of declaring that their wage structures haven't been compromised

because clubs always do this when the wage structure hasn't been compromised?!  come on....

Wage strucutres don't really exist anyway - its not a public service with wage bands... its constantly changing based on a handful of contracts
They've made an exception to their normal way of doing business for Salah and every adult in the room understands why so I wouldn't sweat it

[Ghost Town]

because clubs always do this when the wage structure hasn't been compromised?!  come on....

They probably said it because almost all the talk around Mo's new contract has been wage porn arguments rather than about the quality of the player, etc (yes there has been some but far outweighed). Even the club, which tends to stay detatched from such things (and rightly so) probably felt it was worth an attempt at closing that runaway train down. Some hope. I expect this will go on and on, with wilder and wilder claims

Wage strucutres don't really exist anyway - its not a public service with wage bands... its constantly changing based on a handful of contracts.

It's true that we don't know what, if any, wage structure there is, because the details are kept largely under wraps. We only know what they say, which for months, and longer, has been that they have  a wage structure that they are not going to compromise. What that actually means none of us know.

They've made an exception to their normal way of doing business for Salah and every adult in the room understands why so I wouldn't sweat it

We've got no real idea what they've done. Only what they say. It's remarkable how on this one subject so many people are unprepared to accept that we lack details and feel they must have a concrete answer, even to the point of making things up.

[JackWard33]

They probably said it because almost all the talk around Mo's new contract has been wage porn arguments rather than about the quality of the player, etc (yes there has been some but far outweighed). Even the club, which tends to stay detatched from such things (and rightly so) probably felt it was worth an attempt at closing that runaway train down. Some hope. I expect this will go on and on, with wilder and wilder claims
It's true that we don't know what, if any, wage structure there is, because the details are kept largely under wraps. We only know what they say, which for months, and longer, has been that they have  a wage structure that they are not going to compromise. What that actually means none of us know.
We've got no real idea what they've done. Only what they say. It's remarkable how on this one subject so many people are unprepared to accept that we lack details and feel they must have a concrete answer, even to the point of making things up.

I mean when you’ve got Paul Joyce quoting specific numbers you’re on pretty firm ground - not sure why you feel the need to pretend this is some sort of mystery

[Ghost Town]

I mean when you’ve got Paul Joyce quoting specific numbers you’re on pretty firm ground - not sure why you feel the need to pretend this is some sort of mystery

Do I detect a hushed note of awe when Joyce is mentioned?

I think I was pretty clear in the last post and anyway I don't proposing to go on and on about it.

Though I should add that I don't actually have any skin in this game. I couldn't actually give a stuff what Mo is being paid, nor whether it breaks a wage structure or not. I trust the club these days not to drunken sailor its way into bankruptcy and it ain't my money.

It's true that, separate from any individidual's case, I have concerns about the amount of money sloshing about the game and the negative influences and impacts of it (there are positive ones as well) but that's a general state issue and not one restructed to any individual.

What I don't like is the way discussions between people who don't have the facts can often result in consensuses which kind of become 'established facts' even though no one involved in forming them know anything for certain, whereas those who do know the facts, are not involved. It's an abhored vacuum situation, but it shouldn't be, is my point. Of course that, too, is a general issue not just restricted to wage discussions, but is momentarily pertinent.

Anyway, another golden boot incoming for Mo, for certain (lol) 

[stevieG786]

Where did all the people complaining and speculating about the wage structure go? We just completely smashed our wage structure for him which I’ve always said we should regardless of what any other player in our squad feels, he is quite clearly our star player.

This!

Never in doubt they Mo would sign the contract, he wants LFC and we want him.

Signing of the summer!

[Red Being]

People worrying about how much Salah is getting paid - are probably blind to how much of a draw he is in many parts of the world. He is hot commercial property - this is getting overlooked while assessing his worth.

[cipher]

Fantastic news about Mo signing the 2 year extension!   Basically confirms he will have been with us during his greatest years and likely ends up as a 5th all-time goal scorer for us as he next passes Owen, Dalglish, Fowler and Gerrard.

https://www.lfchistory.net/Stats/PlayerGoalscorers

We've essentially had 3 great forwards for the past 4-5 years with a big drop-off after Salah, Mane, Firmino.  Last year we were spoiled up front with Jota and Diaz added to those 3.  Locking in Salah and signing Nunez means we'll continue to have great depth up front consisting of Salah, Nunez, Diaz, Jota, Firmino meaning FSG and management have likely determined it's critical to have this quality depth to compete at the absolute top. Hopefully, we can add a couple of equally talented young midfielders over the next few windows.

[Gifted Right Foot]

Awesome news!  The longer that went on the more I was convinced he'd run his contract down.  It would have been near on impossible to try and replace what he brings to the team with just one signing. 

[RayPhilAlan]

People worrying about how much Salah is getting paid - are probably blind to how much of a draw he is in many parts of the world. He is hot commercial property - this is getting overlooked while assessing his worth.

The other thing Salah's pay obscures is what we've had had to pay to bring in someone else if Mo left. If we give Mo 350k per week for three years, that's 55 million pounds. It would have cost far more than that to buy and pay wages for Raphinha or Bowen, and someone like that would be unlikely to contribute nearly as much as Mo. Even assuming we've just given Mo a signing-on bonus, this is by miles the best 'bang for your buck' deal.

[RedG13]

Awesome news.
extended to 2025 seems like a very good deal for the club and player.

[Ravishing Rick Dude]

Smell this >>💩💩

[Topwings!]

For sure this is the best news this transfer window.  Makes absolute financial sense to pay top dollar for one of the best in the world.  Mo is proven quality and already a legend.  He fits like a glove in Klopp's system and has the desire to hit all the highs and break all the records.   

[Number 7]

Totally unexpected when a friend messaged me this morning and told me the news.

Absolutely elated. I did not think the club and Mo would come to an agreement and honestly thought he would be off in next summer. But I’m so so happy to be wrong. Also, this shows we are now prepared to pay top dollar for the right player. We’re actually in the position we yearned to be in for many years.

[smutchin]

Fantastic news. Probably more excited about this than Darwin signing. Well done, Mo. Well done, LFC.

Some of the comments in here are mad.

[red1977]

Totally unexpected when a friend messaged me this morning and told me the news.

Absolutely elated. I did not think the club and Mo would come to an agreement and honestly thought he would be off in next summer. But I’m so so happy to be wrong. Also, this shows we are now prepared to pay top dollar for the right player. We’re actually in the position we yearned to be in for many years.

Yeah, was shuddering at the thought of him going to Abu Dhabi. Was true to his word, he did want to stay and pleased Mo and the club saw things the same way in the end. Fucking onwards now!!

[xbugawugax]

I don't buy it either, they are not children. I would say though that the club may have decided it could not pay 2 30 YO's a top whack and invested in the future, Nunez, at the same time. The fact that Sadio has left may have made it financially easier to pay Mo and I doubt Sadio would not have seen what Mo was paid as due to him also. It's not about rivalry but it may have something about parity and affordability, we know FSG do not want a club of highly paid 30+ year olds or at least overbalanced in that respect.


That said, not sure I care now.


Jota, Diaz, Salah, Nunez, Carvalho, Firmino

and we all thought that our front 3 would be hardest to replace. Egyptian king and bobby as the old heads. Jota proving last season that he could be the main goalscorer when salah and mane were in afcon. Diaz stepping in and ripping the league apart despite not having any preseason with the boys. and then a record young and up coming goal machine to top it all off.

I haven't even mention carvalho who too might hopefully surprise us all. having played with a target man up front in Mitro might help him settle with Nunez. But surely Nunez is a step up hopefully.

we are run so efficiently as a club on and off the pitch that there is hardly any drama involved.

[spider-neil]

Signing Salah ensures we don't water down the transfer budget getting a replacement next season. The sole focus can be about getting a midfielder.

[thaddeus]

I'd resigned myself to him going so this is excellent news.  Despite our wealth of forward talent none of the others seem a good fit as a Mo replacement.

From a cold, hard business sense I'd imagine seeing the money Bayern are demanding from a near-bankrupt Barca for 33-year old Lewandowski played a part.  Salah is clearly in the same bracket and apparently also the darling of the Sports Science team (so no Rooney type dropping off a cliff).

[kezzy]

Well done lad, now go out and score a shitload of goals this season and win us the league. 

[stewy17]

Be nice if this thread can now go back to being about how boss Mo is rather than all this incessant contract shite.

[Tobelius]

350k is a huge number but worth it I think
Out of interest what were his original demands, 400k?

I assume we diverted some of the Mane funds to be able to afford it. Probably the end of our transfer business this summer I reckon.

£350k/week+performance bonuses is a huge salary of course.But.

Been just reading the BBC chat about it and like clockwork rival fans saying it's way too much and will ruin us etc,it's normal of course and imagine the sewer that is twitter is worse.

I see his new wages as just necessary for us to pay now and a result of years of huge wage inflation,the main culprits being the Manchester clubs as this i hope semi reliable chart shows (missing Haaland as well) and he'd go where Sancho is not on top of it as he should as imo the best player (with De Bruyne) in the league but is grouped with people like Sancho,De Gea,Varane,Lukaku.
The Manchester City salaries are questionable as f*ck as we know they've hidden salaries in the past and no doubt still do it.

[alonsoisared]

Fantastic news, this. I've been critical of the owners at times and I did think they were going to let him go because of the high wage demands. It's a huge statement of our intent that we're willing to pay what it takes to retain a genuine world class talent at this stage in his career. That it's heavily based on incentives ensures it's a deal that makes sense for all parties, it really is brilliant news.

[WillG.LFC]

They probably said it because almost all the talk around Mo's new contract has been wage porn arguments rather than about the quality of the player, etc (yes there has been some but far outweighed). Even the club, which tends to stay detatched from such things (and rightly so) probably felt it was worth an attempt at closing that runaway train down. Some hope. I expect this will go on and on, with wilder and wilder claims
It's true that we don't know what, if any, wage structure there is, because the details are kept largely under wraps. We only know what they say, which for months, and longer, has been that they have  a wage structure that they are not going to compromise. What that actually means none of us know.
We've got no real idea what they've done. Only what they say. It's remarkable how on this one subject so many people are unprepared to accept that we lack details and feel they must have a concrete answer, even to the point of making things up.

There is 100% a wage structure at all clubs. When players go for contract negotiations they will look at what the rest of the squad earns. Top players like van dijk at our club would well be within their right to ask for comparable wages to our top earners. That's why football wages are were they are. The top earners drag the wages of all players with them. The higher the ceiling raises the higher the requests go. You could easily say someone like trent or robbo could ask for 50% of whatever our top earner is paid and they'd be entitled to do so. That's life not some conspiracy

[jepovic]

The comparisons with the wages of our other players often miss a crucial point: Those are old contracts.
For instance VVD would want a substantial raise if he signed a new contract, regardless of Salahs contract.

Edit: This obviously goes for most of the stars of our competitors' teams as well, like de Bruyne.

[The G in Gerrard]

Delighted. Best player in the league still for me.

[Jm55]

Always felt a lot like a big obstacle to getting this done was having Mane on the books at the same time, purely because whatever we agreed with Mo was always going to be demanded from him (or at least close to it).

It’s a lot easier to be ‘creative’ with his contract when he’s the only long standing forward at the club who has any chance of getting the numbers needed to make a heavily goal incentivised contract work, if Mane stayed then arguably that’s not the case (if you judge him on the 2nd half of the season form anyway).

To be clear I’m not implying there’s any ‘feud’ or whatever between them as there blatantly wasn’t, you could see as much with the way they were which each other after the AFCON final. But I do think they, rightly, see themselves as on a similar level, both are superstars for their nations, both have played a huge part in our success and I think it was always going to be tricky to retain both (although had Mane stayed I still think we’d have tried with Salah).

[Mister Flip Flop]

It's a huge amount of money and just shows how far we've come as a club that we are now willing and able to pay these type of wages. That said all these type of numbers for chasing a ball around a field whilst the normal Joe or Jane struggles to decide between eating or heating and make ends meet is sickening.

[Raaphael]

Mixed feelings. Obviously glad that Salah stays, but it seems to me we have sold a player(Mane) to make it happen. So Salah really couldn’t live with earning a couple of hundred thousand pounds a week and effectively sent Mane out the door. And yes, I know…it’s the market and you could say that Salah «deserves» to be paid what his worth compared to other players in the league. But that’s part of the problem. Clubs like Man City has inflated the market so much that players are now not happy earning ridiculous amounts of money per week. They earn more than enough, but it all becomes relative when average players like Sancho and Lingard earns more per week than regular people earn in many years.

As I said, I’m glad Salah stays. At the same time, it seems to me that things like this prevents us from doing other stuff when it comes to transfers. Hope it’s worth it. Maybe it is.

[El Lobo]

Mixed feelings. Obviously glad that Salah stays, but it seems to me we have sold a player(Mane) to make it happen. So Salah really couldn’t live with earning a couple of hundred thousand pounds a week and effectively sent Mane out the door. And yes, I know…it’s the market and you could say that Salah «deserves» to be paid what his worth compared to other players in the league. But that’s part of the problem. Clubs like Man City has inflated the market so much that players are now not happy earning ridiculous amounts of money per week. They earn more than enough, but it all becomes relative when average players like Sancho and Lingard earns more per week than regular people earn in many years.

As I said, I’m glad Salah stays. At the same time, it seems to me that things like this prevents us from doing other stuff when it comes to transfers. Hope it’s worth it. Maybe it is.

You’ll catch a few with that, tremendous fishing

[Jm55]

Mixed feelings. Obviously glad that Salah stays, but it seems to me we have sold a player(Mane) to make it happen. So Salah really couldn’t live with earning a couple of hundred thousand pounds a week and effectively sent Mane out the door. And yes, I know…it’s the market and you could say that Salah «deserves» to be paid what his worth compared to other players in the league. But that’s part of the problem. Clubs like Man City has inflated the market so much that players are now not happy earning ridiculous amounts of money per week. They earn more than enough, but it all becomes relative when average players like Sancho and Lingard earns more per week than regular people earn in many years.

As I said, I’m glad Salah stays. At the same time, it seems to me that things like this prevents us from doing other stuff when it comes to transfers. Hope it’s worth it. Maybe it is.

Mane has said the manager tried to make him stay.

I think there’s a fair chance Mane leaving made it easier as I’ve said in my previous post but I very much doubt one was done with a view to making the other permissible, I just don’t think we work like that.

[Red_Rich]

After refreshing the front line with Diaz, Darwin and Carvalho, I don't think there was a chance in hell we were going to do anything but keep Salah.  Too many changes all at once would have disrupted us, I think.

Mo's numbers are too good to let go.  Sadio's were good too but that missed open goal in the League Cup final sealed his fate.  That's the moment the club made its decision.

[CraigDS]

Anyone expressing mixed feelings about keeping one of the top 3 players in the world should be booted from the forum for singularly lowering the collective IQ of us all down to single digits.

[Fiasco]

If anybody has earned a wage of this nature then it is Salah. Always fit and available, never hides, scores buckets of goals, a legend already and now we've got the rest of his best years. Delighted with this.

[JackWard33]

Didn’t think this would get done but the one chink of light a little while ago was when reports came out that he only wanted 2 more years on his deal
There’s a massive difference for us paying him big money now and up to turning 33 compared to committing to paying him at 34 and 35

[dmorgan]

Of course he deserves every penny of it... You need to pay the top bucks sometimes when it comes to the world's best players. People getting their knickers in a twist about retaining one of the top 3 players in the world, need to get a sanity check