Salah, Mane’s futures in their own hands, says Klopp

LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp says he does not believe his new deal will be the deciding factor in whether star forwards Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane commit their long-term futures to the club.

Salah and Mane, along with fellow attacker Roberto Firmino and midfielder Naby Keita, have contracts that expire next year.

With Klopp now staying until 2026, there is greater security at the club, but the German is not convinced that will make a huge difference to players’ decisions.

“If it is a positive sign for the boys, great, but I don’t think this will be the one decisive thing for whatever decision they want to make,” Klopp said.

“It is their own life but we just wanted to guarantee that everyone who wants to be here knows what he can expect.”

Salah, whose negotiations have dragged on for months, said last week it was not certain he would stay at Anfield, stressing the decision was not just about the money.

But Klopp said he did not make judgements about players’ loyalty based on if they want to leave.

“If a player tells you early enough he wants to go then you have to deal with it,” Klopp said.

“I don’t judge people if they are loyal or not if they say during a contract, ‘I want to go somewhere else and see what the weather is like or how the grass is there’.

“That’s not the case. I think you see loyalty in other areas.”

Salah was named the Football Writers’ Association player of the year on Friday.

Klopp, whose side have already won the League Cup this season, said his new contract was the start of a new era at the club.

“We don’t think about changing the team in the next two or three years, but you have to prepare the little things so that you are ready for the future as well,” he said.

“That’s why I really think it’s a really good place to be or a good place to join, if not the perfect place.

“We cannot wait 10 years. We have to do it now. This is only the start, to be honest. That’s the plan, that we really, really go for it.”

Liverpool face Aston Villa tonight at Villa Park.