Gabriel Agbonlahor has called on Liverpool to open the chequebook for Mohamed Salah and avoid an ‘unforgivable’ mistake.
Salah is entering the final six months of his contract with the Reds, which means he will be able to speak to foreign clubs in January about moving for free at the end of the season.
The Egyptian winger did little to silence rumours about a potential exit when he claimed he was ‘probably more out than in’ after Liverpool’s 3-2 win over Southampton on Sunday.
Salah added: “There is no club like this. But in the end it is not in my hands. As I said before, it is December and I haven’t received anything yet about my future.”
Reds legend Jamie Carragher was left ‘very disappointed’ by Salah’s comments and even labelled the superstar forward ‘selfish’.
At present, the 32-year-old rakes in over an estimated £300k-a-week, which places him as the club’s top earner.
But former Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor believes Liverpool must be prepared to break the bank for their superstar forward given how well he continues to perform.
“First of all, Mo Salah is 32, I think Mo Salah is going to have the same length of career as [Cristiano] Ronaldo because he looks after his body, doesn’t look like he’s slowing down at 32, still rapid, still getting the same numbers as well,” Agbonlahor told talkSPORT Drive.
“Mo Salah is probably on £300k-a-week at the moment. He’s probably saying, ‘You know what, I want £500k. Give it to me or I’ll get double that in Saudi Arabia.’
“I’ve heard from a good source that Saudi want him. They want him to be the face of the Saudi Pro League. So if you’re getting those silly numbers and you’re producing so well for your club, season after season after season, you want your worth.
“Yes, people will say £300k is enough, but it doesn’t matter. You want in life what you feel you’re worth. But Salah is probably thinking, ‘I’m 32, I’ve got three years left in me at the top of the Premier League.’
“Liverpool might be saying, ‘We can’t give you £500k-a-week for three years. We might be able to do £350k, £400k for two years.’
“Maybe that’s not where they are seeing eye-to-eye.”
Salah is not the only big name Liverpool have allowed to fall into the final six months of their deal.
Skipper Virgil van Dijk and right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold are also inching closer to their contracts running out.
Alexander-Arnold has been heavily linked with a move to European heavyweights Real Madrid, with former Reds star Michael Owen even putting his hand up to facilitate a deal to the Spanish capital.
As for Van Dijk, 33, the Reds may be reluctant to offer him a lengthy and expensive deal given his age.
But it is the idea of letting Salah, who has scored 223 goals in 367 appearances for Liverpool across all competitions, walk free that left Agbonlahor flabbergasted.
The ex-Villa man also raised the concern of what happens to the wage requests of Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold if they see Salah getting what he wants.
“Unforgivable,” Agbonlahor said. It’s like [Lionel] Messi leaving Barcelona.
“Van Dijk, 33, he’s probably got his last deal, wants a big one.
“Their numbers go up as well. Before you know it, you might have Van Dijk wanting £300k, you might have Trent wanting £350k.
“Unforgivable, mate. Can you picture that Liverpool team without Salah? I can’t picture it. I just can’t picture a replacement.
“Even if you have to pay him £500k, the extra from what £300k-a-week is now, what’s it going to cost you to replace Salah?”
Agbonlahor’s Messi reference relates to when the superstar left Barcelona for free in 2021 and joined Paris Saint-Germain.
However, Messi’s departure was due to the club’s scandalous financial mismanagement and LaLiga regulations rather than dragging their heels over contract negotiations.
As for Salah, it appears his main option other than staying at Liverpool is a move to Saudi Arabia.
The winger was the subject of an eye-watering £150m bid from Al Ittihad in September last year, but the Reds turned it down.
talkSPORT also understands Al Hilal are keen to snap up Salah ahead of the Club World Cup, a tournament which could pit the Egyptian up against Messi and Inter Miami.
“All signs are Saudi are going to come back in and if Salah is a free agent then naturally he can get a bigger sign-on fee,” talkSPORT’s Saudi Pro League correspondent Ben Jacobs said earlier in November.
“Liverpool want him to renew, Saudi are pushing hard. [Saudi Pro League sporting director] Michael Emenalo, who has a good relationship with Mo Salah, is leading the drive.
“So the only thing that’s really changed is the club from Al Ittihad to Al Hilal and the expectation is that Saudi will make a big push.”