Arne Slot has predicted Mohamed Salah extending his stay at Liverpool could provide a significant boost to the club’s transfer plans.
The club announced on Friday that Salah has signed a new deal, one that is set to keep him at Anfield through to the summer of 2027.
It ends the speculation over the 32-year-old’s future, just a few weeks before Salah’s existing deal was going to expire and leave him as a free agent.
The Liverpool star has 32 goals and 22 assists in all competitions this season and Slot believes keeping Salah at the club will prove key in the upcoming transfer window.
“I think if put myself in shoes of a player we want to sign, it is always nice that Mo is staying,” Slot said.
“So that helps. But what helps most is we kept a quality player that has scored so many goals in 7/8 years. You are judged on goals so it is helpful having someone who can score. "
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Virgil van Dijk is expected to follow Salah in committing his future to Liverpool, though it remains to be seen whether Trent Alexander-Arnold does likewise, with a move to Real Madrid appearing likely.
Salah has spent eight years at Liverpool and is now set to take his time at the club to a decade, presenting the chance to break more records. The forward has 243 goals and 109 assists for Liverpool in 393 appearances.
Slot praised the mental strength of his star man in attack, believing that to be one of Salah’s primary attributes.
“First of all, he has always been judged as a player, but I also see him as a human being and he is humble, works hard and puts so much effort in to become the player he is,” Slot said.
“He keeps that effort every single day. He can score goals if he is not in the best half hour or 15 mins and that is why he is mentally so strong. He has to be strong mentally and apart from the other things that is probably what stands out for me.”
On his own role in the contract negotiations, Slot added: “I am part of the process but I don't deserve the compliments.
“It's Mo, his agent and then FSG, Richard [Hughes, sporting director]. Effort mostly means money! But also effort, not only money.
"But what it might tell you is that we not only want a good season this season but we also want to make a good season next season as well. And Mo is convinced that there is fair chance we are able to do so. That's a positive for us."