According to reports, a ‘last-minute offer’ to Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has ‘boosted’ FC Barcelona and done the Spanish giants a ‘favour’.
Salah has been heavily linked with an exit over the past year as his current Liverpool contract is due to expire at the end of this season.
The Egypt international is one of the most valuable footballers who is in line to become a free agent this summer, but it’s emerged that he is set to remain at Liverpool beyond the end of this season.
Several European and Saudi Pro League clubs have been mooted as possible destinations for Salah, but it’s also been widely reported that his preference is to remain at Liverpool.
This has been a great season as the Reds are set to win their 20th Premier League title and Salah has arguably been the best player in the division with 27 goals and 17 assists.
Earlier this week, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed that Salah is close to signing a new contract.
Romano said: ‘Mo Salah, closing in on new deal at Liverpool as agreement is now at the final stages.
‘Club confident to get it done soon, same for Virgil van Dijk who recently confirmed positive progress made. Salah and #LFC, expected to continue together.’
A report in Spain claims Liverpool’s supposed ‘last-minute offer’ to Salah is ‘to be accepted’ and that it’s ‘done Barcelona a favour’.
Barcelona are said to be ‘breathing a sigh of relief’ as Salah’s exit ‘would have triggered a domino effect’ with Raphinha ‘marked as a top target’ by the Anfield hierarchy.
‘But now, with Salah close to renewing his contract and continuing to be Liverpool’s attacking mainstay, the English club is freed from having to search for an immediate replacement.
‘This news gives Barcelona a boost , as they consider Raphinha untransferable unless an absolutely irresistible offer arrives. Hansi Flick counts on him as one of the key players in his project, and Joan Laporta has reiterated that the Brazilian is comfortable in the city and in the locker room.
‘Furthermore, Raphinha himself has expressed on more than one occasion his desire to continue succeeding at Barça and not consider leaving anytime soon.
‘Although he has received approaches and offers from both the Premier League and Saudi Arabia, the winger is focused on the team’s objectives and fighting for the treble, a dream that seems more alive than ever after the excellent team performances of recent weeks.’