You could be forgiven for thinking that Mohamed Salah is now the only player on Liverpool’s books not tied down to a 10-year contract that includes the kind of release clause that makes a future transfer impossible.

After a flurry of extensions over the summer and early in the current campaign, a lot of positive business has been completed. Virgil van Dijk, Alisson, Fabinho, Andy Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson are all working on fresh terms. Stability on and off the field has already delivered domestic and continental titles and if you bet on the English Premier League with Betfair, then you get the Reds at 9/2 to claim another Premier League crown in 2021-22.

Salah has, without question, been a shining light throughout a memorable run of recent successes. His consistency has set standards that few outside of the Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi Ballon d’Or duopoly can claim to have matched.

Keeping him around is imperative when it comes to future trophy tilts and earning favour in English Premier League tips that see Jurgen Klopp’s side as strong contenders in the present.

Salah is, however, making as many headlines off the field as he is on it. For as long as a new contract remains unsigned on a table in the Anfield boardroom, questions are going to be asked. Will he, won’t he? Should he, shouldn’t he? Can Liverpool afford to keep him financially? Can they afford to let him go in a sporting sense?

All are valid queries and ones where answers will hopefully be provided in the not too distant future.

It’s not all about Salah

It is, however, worth pointing out that the Egyptian king of Merseyside already remains tied to a deal through to the summer of 2023. There is no need to panic just yet. There also needs to be recognition, more from those outside of the Liverpool bubble than inside it, that Salah is not the only superstar forward to be approaching the final 18 months of a well-earned contract.

Sat alongside him, as he often is in the heat of Premier League and Champions League battle, is Sadio Mane. The Senegalese is very much in the same boat when it comes to long-term future decisions. He is, though, sailing under the radar somewhat as so much attention is focused on a prolific colleague. It would not be the first time that Mane is left feeling as though some of his spotlight is being stolen.


Recognition that is thoroughly deserved will come his way; you can guarantee that. There is no way that Liverpool power brokers are ignoring the claims of another key cog in a well-oiled machine to the terms that will keep him in familiar surroundings.
There has been exit talk around Mane, as there has Salah, but much of it is swatted away without so much as a second look. The plan is to ensure that remains the case, with any interest from afar seen off before it becomes a source of concern.
Liverpool have moved swiftly and decisively so far and more of the same is now required. Salah may be the next priority, but Mane deserves a serious slice of any funds and acclaim being handed out.