Michael Owen has disclosed what 'sources' have told him about Mohamed Salah's contract situation at Liverpool as his future remains up in the air.
The 32-year-old, who has notched 32 goals and 22 assists for runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool this season, is currently in the final months of his £350,000 per-week contract at Anfield.
As it stands, the Egyptian will leave on a free transfer in the summer alongside Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is being strongly linked with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.
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That being said, former Liverpool striker Michael Owen claims Salah wants to stay at Liverpool beyond the summer, although the club and player are still "quite a way apart", according to his source.
"Mo Salah's an interesting one. I think Mo Salah wants to stay, in fact I'm pretty sure he wants to stay," Owen 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.'
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"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."
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As mentioned above, Trent Alexander-Arnold continues to be linked with a move to Real Madrid.
In fact, the 26-year-old defender has agreed to join Los Blancos this summer, according to talkSPORT, who claim he has agreed personal terms over a five-year deal worth in excess of £220,000-per-week.
Owen also gave his take on Alexander-Arnold's contract situation at Anfield.
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"Does he want to stay at Liverpool? He's been there, seen it, done it, won everything, got the t-shirt," Owen said about the England international.
"He could retire at the club and be an all-time legend, will be an all-time legend. I mean, he's contributed so much to that club, he's come through the ranks.
"Nobody can doubt his loyalty or anything else like that. And he could play out his days and he's still in a successful team. Liverpool are still absolutely one of the best teams in Europe, of course, going to go on to win the league as well this season. I mean, it's not a bad choice.
"My choice, when I was in that situation, we weren't quite as good as the current Liverpool team in terms of we weren't quite as dominant.
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"But it is a similar thing, no question about it. The other alternative, of course, is he can be sitting there thinking, I've done everything, I've achieved absolutely everything at my boyhood."
Owen added: "Who can deny me a chance to go and play for one of the biggest teams in the world, a new experience, a new country, new language, new weather, new food, new everything? And what a team."
Topics: Michael Owen, Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Premier League
Jack Kenmare