MUCH MO TO COME

Klopp says best years ahead for Salah as fury over cryptic messages turns to joy

IF ever anything summed up the drama surrounding Mo Salah’s contract negotiations, it came minutes before the announcement on his commitment to Liverpool.

His agent Ramy Abbas Issa – in keeping with some cryptic social media messages over the past year – posted yet another laughing emoji, which induced a furious response from some Reds fans.

Chief among them was former Anfield star Jamie Carragher, the TV pundit suggesting supporters could “do without this cryptic c**p” for the next 12 months as the final year of Salah’s contract ticked down.

Except that it won’t. The emoji was a hint of joy this time, not frustration, with Issa instrumental in a deal which somehow found a compromise even when there was a massive discrepancy in the positions of both sides.

Salah is believed to have been looking for a similar salary to his Premier League equal at Manchester City, Kevin De Bruyne, while Liverpool did not want to pay more than previous top earner Virgil van Dijk.

Yet as manager Jurgen Klopp explained, there was a willingness on both sides to find a way. “It is the best decision for us and for him,” said the German.

For all Liverpool’s pragmatism in financial affairs – illustrated by Sadio Mane’s departure – they could not afford to lose Salah.

It is all very well exchanging Mane for a striker of rich promise in Darwin Nunez, who is eight years younger, but it is another matter altogether replacing a goalscorer such as Salah, who has been the equal of any forward in world football over the past five years.

Salah has already broken eight Premier League records and even more for Liverpool.

He is the club’s ninth highest goalscorer of all time, with 156 goals and 63 assists in 254 games.

And Klopp said. “I have no doubt Mo’s best years are still to come. And that’s saying something, because the first five seasons here have been the stuff of legend.

“Fitness-wise, he’s a machine, in the most incredible shape. He works hard and gets his rewards.

“His ability and his skill level gets higher each season and his decision-making has gone to another level also.

“He is adored by his teammates. As coaches, we know we work with someone special. And the supporters have crowned him a king. So, very cool. It is just great news.

“It makes me smile thinking about it. He stays with us for longer and it means we can achieve more together.”