Liverpool begin talks over deal that could make Salah Premier League’s highest earner

Liverpool laid down a marker for their fellow Premier League title rivals on Saturday, as they ran out 5-0 winners over Watford after a sensational performance at Vicarage Road. 

Jurgen Klopp’s side continued their unbeaten start to the season courtesy of a hat-trick from Roberto Firmino, however it was one of the Brazilian’s Reds teammates that stood out.

Mohamed Salah followed up his brilliant individual goal against Manchester City a fortnight ago with another wonderful solo goal to put the Reds 4-0 up shortly after half-time.

The goal, the pick of the handful that Liverpool scored, followed Salah’s sensational assist for teammate Sadio Mane, who opened the scoring within the first ten minutes.

The Egyptian’s goal, his tenth of the season and seventh in the league this term, sent him top of the goal scoring charts.

Manager Jurgen Klopp was full of praise for Salah after the game, and will undoubtedly have been overjoyed at all of his front three getting on the scoresheet.

Now, Klopp’s focus is turning to keeping hold of his start player.

The 29-year-old has two years still remaining on his current deal with the Merseyside club, but his current employers are understandably keen to tie him down for as long as possible.

According to The Telegraph, the former Chelsea attacker wants as much as £400,000-per-week if he is to sign an extension, a figure that would make him the Premier League’s highest earner.

While Salah is believed to be happy at Liverpool at present, it is believed that initial talks between the two parties over a contract extension have begun slowly and they remain some way apart.

The report also highlights how Liverpool’s dealings with Luis Suarez, who was the club’s highest earner in the final years of his time with the club, have similarities with the Salah ordeal.

Suarez was the highest earner at the club during a time when they didn’t have many world class players, whereas the club’s abundance of talent now means that they have more players on high wages.

Salah moved level with Didier Drogba as the highest scoring African player in Premier League history with his goal on Saturday, and it seems to be only a matter of time before the Egyptian moves clear of the former Chelsea striker at the top of the list.