Liverpool 'going to have to bend the rules' to ensure Mo Salah stays at Anfield

Mohamed Salah is set to leave Liverpool this summer unless he signs a new contract with the Premier League giants, but Michael Owen spelled out a potential scenario for the Egyptian to remain a Red.

Michael Owen believes Liverpool must set a precedent in their contract policy to keep Mohamed Salah from leaving. The Egyptian is out of contract at the end of the season and is set to leave Merseyside after eight years unless a new deal can be agreed between the two parties.

Should he depart from the Premier League leaders, he would do so on the back of what has been perhaps the best season of his career, having scored 32 goals and tallied 22 assists in 43 games across all competitions.

Owen – who spent the first eight years of his career at Anfield – believes the 32-year-old wants to stay at the club, but Liverpool's hierarchy must make a special exception for Salah in their contract offer.

"Mo Salah's an interesting one. I think Mo Salah wants to stay, in fact I'm pretty sure he wants to stay," the ex-England striker told talkSPORT. "I think Liverpool are going to have to bend the rules slightly, they might say, 'oh right, only two years for players of this age'.

"But he's no normal player, he's as fit as a flea, he's dedicated, he lives in the gym, he's so professional. You can't tell me that he's not going to be at the same level in three, four years. I mean, he's just unbelievable. So I would bend the rules, I would give him the contract, the length of contract.

"I'm also not that type of person, a fan that says, 'just give him what he wants, he's brilliant, we'll win the league with him'. No, because you can't put your club at risk, but I don't think it's got to that stage.

"To replace him, it's going to cost an awful lot more, you're not going to pay a transfer fee for him. So I would do whatever it takes to keep him, and I think he wants to stay, but sources tell me that they're still quite a way apart."

In the scenario that Salah – who is believed to earn over £300k-a-week – ends his tenure at Anfield this summer, Owen pinpointed Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo as a potential replacement while urging his former side to attempt to swoon Alexander Isak from Newcastle.

"I think if he (Salah) was to go, Liverpool would look to replace him or find another attacking player, because I think Darwin Nunez will probably go as well," he said.

"There's lots of alternatives out there but no-one can replace Mo Salah. There's no-one out there that is going to get his numbers. There's been a few rumours lately about different players.

"Alexander Isak would just be an incredible move if Liverpool could get him, but I'm sure virtually every team wants him and Newcastle are desperate to keep hold of him, so that would be an interesting one.

"I like Antoine Semenyo at Bournemouth, who plays in the same position as Salah. I like him, a younger version, but definitely got energy, scoring capabilities and a good player."

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