MWith Premier League action halted for international week, many Liverpool fans will have had half an eye on the Reds’ star players as they represent their country. Both Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz got on the scoresheet for their respective nations and should be raring to go when domestic action returns.
Wing wizards Mo Salah and Sadio Mane clash for the second time in two months tonight, as Egypt welcome Senegal for a crunch World Cup qualifier.
Salah’s contract has been an issue throughout this season. The story developed this month, with Mo’s agent responding to Jurgen Klopp’s comments with a tweet consisting entirely of laughing emojis. Reports have emerged that Juventus may be looking to take advantage of the impasse and prize the Egyptian King away from Anfield.
On the latest episode of our Journo Insight Show, we asked goal.com’s Neil Jones for his response to the claims.
Neil said:
“I don’t see that being an issue. They’ve just bought Dusan Vlahovic for massive money. I think the word from Juventus is that he is the pillar around which their future will be built. They bought Cristiano Ronaldo late in his career to win them the Champions League, and he not only managed to not win them the Champions League, he actually managed to lose them the Serie A title – that project managed to surrender the title. I’d be amazed if Juventus went down a route of vanity signing like that. I’d be amazed if Salah went for that kind of thing. He’s done Italy, he’s already shown he can tear it up in that league. He’s not getting any closer to winning Champions Leagues and Ballons d’Or by playing for Juventus.
It’s a Juventus M.O. to get these free transfers – Aaron Ramsey, Emre Can, Rabiot. They even took Pirlo on a free towards the back end of his career. That’s a different level to taking Mo Salah on a free. I think we can rule that out, personally. Stranger things have happened, but it would be a tough one for Salah to sell as a step up for him if he’s going to walk away from Liverpool.”
Redmen Reacts
One of the factors working against Mo’s emoji-happy idiot of an agent is this: who exactly is going to be able to sign him? Real Madrid seem to be focussing on Kylian Mbappe. Barcelona would need to reduce their expenditure by a monumental amount to offer Salah the money he is apparently asking for.
As Neil describes, Juventus have previously been bitten by paying a 30+ year-old superstar ridiculous money as a short-term solution. Their attacking plans revolve around Vlahovic and Federico Chiesa, so a move to Turin would seem unlikely at this stage. That would leave Man City, PSG and Newcastle United as the only feasible destinations.
A move Tyneside would see Mo a world away from the Champions League glory he seeks. PSG seem like a basket case at the moment, whose fans are in open revolt. Whatever you do, Mo, please do not entertain the idea of making a move 25 miles east.
TO HEAR MORE FROM NEIL JONES ON LIVERPOOL’S TRANSFER PLANS, CLICK HERE.
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