Liverpool braced itself to take $200M Mohamed Salah hit after FSG 'goodwill' move

Mohamed Salah will leave Liverpool this summer, with the Egyptian having reached an agreement with the club that will see him exit Anfield for free as the final year of his contract is waived

Mohamed Salah will leave Liverpool this summer(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool has been braced to take a hit on Mohamed Salah’s exit for almost three years now, with the Egyptian set to bring the curtain down on his Anfield career.

Salah will leave the Reds this summer, having made the bombshell announcement earlier this week. The winger has reached an agreement with Liverpool that will see the final year on his contract waived, having signed a two-year extension only last year.

The decision to allow Salah to leave for free has been met with mixed reactions from supporters, with some seeing it as an opportunity to save on Salah’s huge wages, while others have hit out at the decision not to pursue a transfer fee.

As The Athletic explains though, Liverpool has long expected that whenever Salah left, it would be for nothing. In an article detailing some of the inside information on his departure, it’s revealed that the club has held that expectation ever since it turned down a £150 million ($200M) offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad in 2023.

It’s claimed that, given Salah’s salary demands, it would be unlikely for any club interested in signing him to also be willing to pay a fee, especially considering he turns 34 in June.

The decision to waive the final year of his contract is described as a “goodwill” gesture from FSG for what Salah has contributed over his nine years at the club, with sources close to the process deeming it "a common-sense outcome that suits all parties."

Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes led the discussions with Salah(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

Getting Salah off the books early also gives Liverpool clarity as it looks at how best to replace him this summer.

The Egyptian is the Reds’ highest earner, raking in a basic wage of around £400,000 ($532,000) per week plus bonuses, and the prospect of him staying on as a squad player in the final year of his contract was always seen as being unrealistic.

Sporting director Richard Hughes led the discussions with Salah’s representative, with FSG signing off on the agreement.

Talks began after Salah’s output had decreased dramatically compared to last season, in which he led Liverpool to the Premier League title. The 33-year-old threw his future into major doubt after launching an extraordinary attack against the club and Arne Slot after being dropped for three games back in December.

Although some bridges were repaired and Salah returned to the side after his involvement at the Africa Cup of Nations, his performances continued to be under-par, and the prospect of him continuing with a reduced role next season was deemed "unpalatable."

Announcing his impending departure this week, Salah said: "I want to thank everyone who was part of this club during my time here, especially my teammates, past and present.

"And to the fans, I don't have enough words. The support you showed me, through the best time of my career, is something I will never forget and something I will always take with me.

"Leaving is never easy. You gave me the best time of my life. I will always be one of you. This club will always be my home, to me and my family. Thank you for everything. Because of all of you, I will never walk alone."