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Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is reportedly preparing for crucial discussions with Egypt manager Hossam Hassan next week, in an attempt to sidestep another club-versus-country disagreement ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Egypt is scheduled to hold a training camp before taking on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on December 6, Jordan on December 9, and then Nigeria on December 14, as part of their winter tournament preparations.
According to WinWin, Egypt's Hassan has the authority to summon Liverpool's Salah — along with Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush — for these three matches, which could cause friction, and is therefore set for talks.
Liverpool has Premier League fixtures against Leeds United and Brighton, as well as a Champions League match against Inter Milan, that week, and it wants Salah available for these games.
Salah would also rather stay and participate in these competitive matches for Liverpool, before departing for duty with Egypt the following week.
Salah, aged 33, is anticipated to meet with Hassan during the November international break, with Egypt due to play Uzbekistan on 14 November and Algeria on 17 November in two friendly matches.
The former Chelsea and Roma player is eager to avoid a dispute between his club and country, two years after Liverpool wrote to Egypt requesting his exemption from an international camp to improve his long-term health.
Residents in Cairo, Egypt's capital, were outraged and claimed it was 'their right' to call up Salah. However, the national team ultimately accepted Liverpool's request and Salah remained on Merseyside.
Liverpool and Egypt will need to hold discussions regarding the departure date of Salah for the forthcoming AFCON tournament, which kicks off on December 21 and concludes on January 18, in Morocco.
Assuming Salah is permitted to leave post the Brighton match on 13 December, Liverpool could potentially be without him for eight matches in a worst-case scenario.
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Salah would miss Premier League clashes against Tottenham, Wolves, Leeds, Fulham, Arsenal and Burnley, as well as a Champions League encounter at Marseille four days following the AFCON final and the FA Cup third round in early January.
If Egypt progresses to the final stages, Salah could make his Liverpool comeback against Bournemouth on 24 January.
Despite a dip in form, Salah has netted five goals and provided three assists in 15 appearances for Liverpool this season, scoring in each of his last two Premier League games.
Liverpool.com says: Losing Salah is something the Reds have had a long time to think about. Jeremie Frimpong should be back from injury by then and would be one option. Florian Wirtz has also played on the right at times.
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