I meant as a long term replacement. He’s 22 years of age and has shown some potential. This is irregardless of whether we get Salah a new contract or not.
We are getting into the “diminishing returns” bit as far as Salah is concerned.
If it were upto me, I’d give both Virgil and Salah 2 year deals. But out of the three , Salah is probably the least preference.
Back to this though…
You are ok with letting him go.
He might leave at the end of the season…
I am far from “ok” with that though.
My view is…
Do whats needed for him to stay.
Not too concerned as it can be taken in multiple ways.
I read it as part of the whole post, meaning we want to be No.1 and that is what the players and coaches are working towards, but if we don’t finish 1st, then it won’t be due to everyone not putting in the required work and effort.
I would have agreed, but why would he mention scoring at Anfield then? He does that on a regular basis anyway.
We had just won a very tough game at home, and the home support has played a massive role in the teams’ fortunes over the last 8-9 years, so is giving acknowledgement to the love the players have for that support.
The fact that Salah is becoming one of the best of all times (not just for the club but for the whole League), and on his way for more, and the fact that he brings the numbers in, is more than enough of a reason to make an exception and be able to justify it when other players ask for the same. Thirties or no thirties. You just keep him. Yes you negotiate and try to keep it reasonable, but even if it means paying two players in one, you keep him.
I agree we should keep Virgil as a priority and as a minimum.
May I remind everyone that we have survived
Keegan leaving, Macmanaman, Owen, Torres, Suarez, Gerrard etc the most important elements are the supporters and the club players come and go but the ones that stay become legends and no money in the world will give them the kind of adulation and sheer magic at Anfield.
It’s of course true, but that said, when you have a player that enables you to compete for titles, and is the player (or at least one of the very few players) that makes the difference whether you win the trophies or not, you do everything you can to keep. You survive if not (perhaps meanwhile not competing as much as your would have with), but you do everything you can to keep.
Of course we have survived players leaving.
But you could reckon on possibilities of players staying another season.
Suarez is an example of this.
Salah is on a similar level of player who makes an enormous difference to how the team operates.
I’m agreed.
I think with the way we are playing his performances won’t massively drop if the other guy is doing the donkey work so to speak.
I think if all 3 really wanted to stay there could potentially be a number would meet the expectations of both the club and the players.
However (and I’m unclear on the precise situation) there is a good case to be made that we probably would want to tie up all other contract extensions prior to that since they would be setting the benchmark.
9 assists already this season.
His season best for us is 16.
He’s apparently staying in Liverpool for the break which is again positive. Assume an agreement to manage his minutes is in place between player and management of Egypt.
As a per 90, that makes Gakpo the most involved attacker we have, then pretty much equally Salah and Diaz.
We are extremely lucky to have such an even spread.
