Paris Saint-Germain are believed to have ‘wanted’ Mo Salah this summer as a potential replacement for Kylian Mbappe, following the Frenchman’s rumoured links to Real Madrid.
One of the major stories in a frantic and frenzied transfer window was the uncertain future of Mbappe, with the World Cup winner appearing set for a move to the Spanish capital after persistent rumours suggested a deal was close.
Long-time admirers Madrid – and president Florentino Perez – reportedly placed a final offer of around €220m on deadline day, even though the 22-year-old has less than a year remaining on his existing deal in Paris.
Despite that extensive offer, PSG refused to do business with the La Liga side, with many questioning the decision not to cash in on a player who could be available for nothing at the end of the season, as well as the rationale behind Madrid’s hefty bid for a player they could sign for free.
While no such deal took place, the forward has since revealed that he did inform his current club of his desire to leave and was keen to ensure that the Parisien side received a transfer fee by moving on this summer, rather than at the end of his contract.
Amid the potential prospect of losing their young starlet, Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has reported that Mauricio Pochettino’s side ‘wanted’ to make a move for Liverpool‘s Mo Salah as a replacement, although the Reds would not have been open to the possibility of losing their main man.
“I can tell you, from what I’m told, PSG were looking at this possibility earlier in the summer in like June, if they’d sold Mbappe to Real Madrid, they were prepared to do something big and they wanted to try for Mo Salah,” he told Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel. “Also, from Liverpool, they didn’t have any intention to open talks to sell Salah. It was never a negotiation because of Liverpool’s position and also PSG’s situation with Mbappe.
Despite his recent stellar form – including his stunner in the 2-2 draw with Manchester City at the weekend – questions remain over the Egyptian’s future due to his current contract situation, with his existing deal set to expire in the summer of 2023.
According to Romano, while a new contract has not yet been agreed between the 29-year-old and the club, it is their ‘priority’ to get him to sign an extension.
“He’s still negotiating with Liverpool. From what I’m told he loves Liverpool, he loves Liverpool as a football club, the fans, the city, everything. But a new contract is not agreed yet.
“I would keep an eye on some clubs this summer if some players move in the summer, like Mbappe and these kind of players, they will try again, but from now until next summer, Liverpool’s priority will be to extend Salah’s contract.”
