'Unforgivable': Liverpool letting Mohamed Salah go for nothing will be like Barcelona letting Lionel Messi go

Gabriel Agbonlahor has asked Liverpool to open the checkbook to Mohamed Salah and avoid an 'unforgivable' mistake.

Salah He is entering the final six months of his contract with the Reds, meaning he will be able to talk to overseas clubs in January about the possibility of a free move at the end of the season.

The Egyptian extreme did little to silence rumors about a possible exit when he claimed he was “probably more out than in” after Liverpool's 3-2 win over Southampton on Sunday.

Salah added: “There is no such club. But in the end it is not in my hands. As I said before, we are in December and I still have not received anything about my future.”

legend of the reds Jamie Carragher was He left “very disappointed” for Salah's comments and even labeled the superstar striker “selfish.”

The 32-year-old currently earns approximately £300,000-a-week, making him the club's highest earner.

But former Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor believes Liverpool They should be prepared to break the bank for their superstar forward given how well he continues to perform.

“First of all, Mo Salah is 32 years old, I think Mo Salah will have the same career as (Cristiano) Ronaldo because he takes care of his body, it doesn't seem like he is slowing down at 32 years old, he is still fast, still getting the same numbers too” Agbonlahor told talkSPORT Drive.

“Mo Salah probably earns £300,000 a week at the moment. He's probably saying, 'You know what, I want £500,000. Give it to me or I'll get double that in Saudi Arabia.'

“I heard from a good source that the Saudis want him. They want him to be the face of the Saudi Pro League. So if you're putting up those silly numbers and you're producing that well for your club, season after season, after the season, you want your worth.

“Yes, people will say £300,000 is enough, but it doesn't matter. You want in life what you feel you're worth. But Salah is probably thinking: 'I'm 32, I've got three more years left.' “Me at the top of the Premier League.”

“Liverpool could be saying: 'We can't give you £500,000 a week for three years. We could give £350,000 or £400,000 for two years.'

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“Maybe that's not where they agree.”

Salah is not the only big name Liverpool have allowed to drop in the final six months of his contract.

Pattern Virgil van Dijk and right side Trent Alexander-Arnold They are also getting closer to running out of contracts.

Alexander-Arnold has been heavily linked with a move to European heavyweights Real Madrid and even former Reds star Michael Owen. raising your hand to facilitate a deal to the Spanish capital.

As for Van Dijk, 33, the Reds may be reluctant to offer him a long and expensive contract given his age.

But it was the idea of ​​releasing Salah, who has scored 223 goals in 367 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions, that left Agbonlahor stunned.

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The former Villa man also expressed concern over what will happen to Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold's wage requests if they see Salah get what he wants.

“Unforgivable,” Agbonlahor said. It's as if (Lionel) Messi left Barcelona.

“Van Dijk, 33 years old, probably has his last contract, he wants a big one.

“Their numbers go up too. Before you know it, Van Dijk might want £300,000 and Trent might want £350,000.

“Unforgivable, mate. Can you imagine that Liverpool team without Salah? I can't imagine it. I just can't imagine a replacement.

“Even if you have to pay him £500,000, the extra of what is £300,000 a week now, how much is it going to cost you to replace Salah?”

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Agbonlahor's reference to Messi relates to when the superstar left Barcelona on a free transfer in 2021 and joined Paris Saint-Germain.

However, Messi's departure was due to the club's scandalous financial mismanagement and LaLiga regulations rather than delays in contract negotiations.

As for Salah, it seems his main option other than staying at Liverpool is a move to Saudi Arabia.

The winger was the subject of a spectacular £150m bid from Al Ittihad in September last year, but the Reds he rejected it.

talkSPORT also understands that Al Hilal are interested in landing Salah ahead of the Club World Cup, a tournament that could pit the Egyptian against Messi and Inter Miami.

“Everything indicates that the Saudis are coming back and if Salah is a free agent then naturally he can command a bigger signing-on fee,” talkSPORT's Saudi Pro League correspondent Ben Jacobs said in early November.

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“Liverpool want him to renew, the Saudis are putting a lot of pressure on him. (Saudi Pro League sporting director) Michael Emenalo, who has a good relationship with Mo Salah, is leading the process.

“So the only thing that has really changed is the club from Al Ittihad to Al Hilal and the expectation is that Saudi Arabia will make a big push.”