Slot urges Salah to extend Liverpool contract amid Saudi interest

Arne Slot has encouraged Mohamed Salah to sign a new deal with Liverpool, advising the Egyptian forward against a move to Saudi Arabia despite growing speculation over his future.

Salah, who has been in outstanding form this season, is out of contract in June, with persistent rumours linking him to the Saudi Pro League. The 32-year-old currently leads the Premier League scoring charts with 19 goals but admitted in December that he remained "far away" from reaching an agreement over an extension at Anfield.

Saudi sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal acknowledged Saudi Arabia's interest in Salah during an interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored on 30 January. "Definitely, because if he ticks all the right boxes, even for us, we'd love to have him," he said. "We feel like we are one with the Egyptians, from our culture and our history and so on."

Speaking ahead of Liverpool's match against Bournemouth, Slot reiterated the club's desire to retain Salah. "We want him to extend, of course, as well," the Dutchman said on 31 January. "That is clear, but I'm not surprised that Saudi wants him. I'm also not surprised if other countries want him as well."

Acknowledging Salah's experience, Slot added: "He's old and wise enough, he's done so many smart things in his career that he will make the right decision for himself and hopefully for us as well. But my advice to him would be different from the one you just mentioned."

Liverpool also face uncertainty over the futures of captain Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, both of whom are out of contract at the end of the season. While Slot admitted it "would be ridiculous" not to discuss their futures, he declined to provide details on the progress of negotiations.