LOVREN: SALAH CLOSER TO LEAVING THAN STAYING

Dejan Lovren, former Liverpool defender and close friend of Mohamed Salah, has made a bold claim regarding the Egyptian forward’s future at Anfield. Lovren, who maintains regular contact with Salah, believes the 32-year-old is “closer to leaving” the club than signing a contract extension as things stand. Salah’s current deal is set to expire at the end of the season, and with no renewal agreed yet, speculation has been mounting about his next move, including a potential lucrative transfer to Saudi Arabia.

Salah, despite his immense success at Liverpool, has expressed multiple times in recent months that a contract renewal at the club is not close. Lovren, who played alongside Salah at Liverpool, shared his personal thoughts on the situation, noting that while Salah is eager to remain at the top level of European football for some time, the current contract impasse has led him to consider a move away from Merseyside.

“I think he’s closer to leaving, he’s closer to leaving than to staying at the moment,” Lovren told winwin. “I know what I feel, I hope everything will turn, I honestly hope for the best. In the end, it’s for the money, but he’s worth it, much more than the money. Who will you replace him with? That would be the first question if I was in the club. I think you would have to pay 200 million to replace him.”

Lovren, who remains close to Salah, revealed that the Liverpool star has been contemplating a “new step” in his career as the contract situation remains unresolved. He also alluded to insider knowledge, suggesting there is more behind the scenes than what is publicly known. “I have to be careful what I say now, because I know a lot of things,” Lovren said, hinting that Salah’s thoughts on his future have evolved amid the ongoing negotiations.

Although Lovren recognizes that Salah is not actively considering a specific club, he believes the player is seriously contemplating a new direction in his career. Despite this, Lovren remains hopeful, as he believes that Liverpool still has the potential to convince Salah to stay.

“I called him one day and said: ‘Mo, you have to think about yourself. Look at everything you’ve given this club and what you can still give.’ In the end, I came to the conclusion that the club doesn’t respect him enough, or at least not as much as they think they deserve,” Lovren added.

However, Lovren also reassured that Salah still has a deep affection for Liverpool, and his love for the club remains a significant factor in any decision he makes. “He loves Liverpool, by the way,” Lovren said. “He loves Liverpool a lot and he wants to stay, and that’s the most important part, maybe he sees himself retiring there, I’m not entirely sure about that. But in the end, it’s not about those around him, it’s about other people.”

With Salah’s future at Liverpool now in the spotlight, the next few months could be crucial in determining whether the club can keep their star player for the long term or if a new chapter will begin for the Egyptian international.