Luis Diaz has encouraged Mohamed Salah to stay at Liverpool beyond the end of the season, admitting it would be ‘very hard’ for the club should the forward decide to move on.
Salah has cemented his status as an all-time Liverpool great since swapping Roma for Anfield back in 2017, with the Egyptian playing an instrumental role across Jurgen Klopp’s trophy-laden tenure on Merseyside.
But Salah has entered into the final 12 months of his contract at Liverpool and the attacker appeared to confirmed that it would be his ‘last year’ with the Reds following the side’s 3-0 win at Manchester United on Sunday.
Salah has been targeted for a move to the Saudi Pro League for some time and Al-Ittihad had an eye-watering £150million offer rejected for the 33-year-old last September.
Arne Slot went on to play down the significance of Salah’s surprise statement at Old Trafford and insisted he would be ‘happy’ for the 2019/20 Premier League winner to remain a part of the squad going forward.
Diaz, who benefitted from two Salah assists at the Theatre of Dreams, has echoed Slot’s comments, telling Telemundo he hopes to continue playing with the Egypt international for the foreseeable future.
‘It would be hard for us, the players, as well as for Liverpool,’ Diaz said.
‘It will hurt a lot, he has a year to think about it. It is not easy at all.
‘He always talks to us, it would be very hard to lose a player as key as he is.
‘It is my team-mate’s decision and it is respected, hopefully he doesn’t leave.’
Reacting to Salah’s comments at the weekend, Alan Shearer said he was ‘really surprised’ that Liverpool had managed to get themselves in such a poor negotiating position.
‘I think it was a good move on Mo Salah’s part after playing such an important role in that win against Man United to come out and say he was treating it like his last season at the club,’ the legendary ex-England and Newcastle striker told Betfair.
‘A couple of assists, a really good goal, a player-of-the-match performance, and then being interviewed afterward to say that no one has come to him or his agent about a contract, which I am amazed about.
‘The situation with him, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil Van Dijk, I’m really surprised they’ve allowed three big hitters to get to this stage.’
Shearer added: ‘Mo was putting a message out there, there’s no doubt about that and whether they listen, whether they’re prepared to give him the length of contract he wants, or the money he wants, we’ll see. There are so many different factors.
‘He may want a big payday and go abroad; we know there was talk about him a few months back about him going to Saudi. Whether that’s what he wants or not I don’t know, but it was clever timing on his part to put that message out.
‘The thing with Salah is, he’s had a rest in the summer and come back in better than ever. He’s started the season incredibly well and when you look at his physique, there’s no doubt he can play at the top level for another two or three years at least.
‘I understand from his point of view that he’ll want a longer contract as he’ll feel he’s better than a one-year deal, but I guess it’s “watch this space”.
‘There’s no doubt the talent, energy and ability are still there and will be for a while, but I just find it really surprising that Salah, Trent and Van Dijk have been allowed to get into the last year of their contracts; particularly Trent being homegrown.
‘I find it really surprising the football club have got themselves into this position.’