Mohamed Salah ‘is CLOSE to signing’ a new Liverpool contract – as Reds ‘set a date for announcement’ after making major progress with Egyptian’s future

Mohamed Salah is reportedly close to ending speculation over his Liverpool future by signing a new deal. 

Salah, 32, is one of the Reds’ all-time greatest players, with the Egyptian having scored a remarkable 227 goals in 372 games for the club since joining from Roma in 2017 for an initial £36.5million fee.

The forward has won eight trophies at Anfield and remains integral to Arne Slot‘s side as they continue to impress so far this season.

However, Salah’s contract expires in the summer and the Egyptian is yet to extend his deal, with speculation over his future currently a major talking point.

The 32-year-old has dropped repeated hints over recent months that this season could be his last at Anfield, although the club and player are said to be keen to agree fresh terms – and Mail Sport reported last week how the Reds have offered him a contract.

And, according to Spanish outlet Marca, progress has been made over recent weeks and the situation has changed with Salah, who is entitled to speak to foreign clubs – and in theory agree a deal to join them – from January 1.

Salah, 32, is one of Liverpool’s greatest ever players having scored 227 goals for the club

However, the Egyptian is yet to extend his contract despite it expiring at the end of the season

The report claims Liverpool’s hierarchy have convinced the Egyptian to pen a fresh deal and there is even belief that everything could be signed before the end of the year.

Salah is in the midst of a stunning campaign after adding 16 goals and 13 assists in 23 games, and this impressive output has made the Reds understand that the forward still has a fundamental role to play for the club over the next few years under Arne Slot. 

The report adds there remains interest from the Saudi Pro League in Salah, but the likelihood of the 32-year-old switching the Premier League for the Middle East has reduced.

Meanwhile, the contracts of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk are also expiring in the summer and Marca claimed the Reds are desperate to keep at least two of the three players.

Alexander-Arnold’s situation is particularly pertinent given the long-standing reported interest from Real Madrid.

There is a chance that Real could even move for the right back in January given their defensive injury problems, with Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal both out for the rest of the season.

Meanwhile, in terms of the messages Salah has given about his future, speaking after Liverpool’s 2-0 win against Man City earlier this month in which the forward scored and added an assist, he hinted he could be on his way out of the club.

‘It’s very special,’ the 32-year-old explained. ‘I said before, I don’t take it for granted. I’m enjoying every minute here. 

The report claims Liverpool believe Salah can have a key role to play over the next few years

The forward has continued to drop hints about his future to the media over recent months

The Reds are also hoping to secure fresh deals for Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk

‘It feels like home. So, yeah, it’s a special feeling. It always is to score at Anfield and win games. 

‘Of course, honestly, in my head, it was like this is my problem, until now, the last City game I play for Liverpool, so I’m just gonna enjoy it.

‘The atmosphere was incredible, so I’m enjoying every second here. And yeah, finally we just (hopefully) win the league and see what will happen.’ 

Those comments came just days after Salah shocked the football world when he publicly called out the club for a lack of progress on offering him a new deal.

The forward conducted a rare interview with Mail Sport and a small group of other reporters after scoring twice in the 3-2 victory at Southampton, where he said he was ‘more out than in’.

Addressing his contract stand-off, Salah had said: ‘We are almost in December and I haven’t received any offers yet to stay in the club.  

‘I’m probably more out than in. You know I have been in the club for many years.

‘There is no club like this. But in the end it is not in my hands. As I said, it is December and I haven’t received anything yet about my future.

‘I love the fans. The fans love me. In the end it is not in my hands or the fans’ hands.’

Salah returns to action on Wednesday night when Liverpool travel to Southampton in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup.