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Graeme Souness suspects Mohamed Salah made a deal with Liverpool last summer agreeing to stay at Anfield for one more year before leaving at the end of the season.
Salah, who has scored 210 goals in 346 games for Liverpool, was involved in a spat with Reds boss Jurgen Klopp during Saturday’s 2-2 draw with West Ham.
The incident has sparked fresh speculation that Salah will join Klopp in leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, amid strong interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia.
Salah has been one of Liverpool’s most important players over the past seven seasons but his form has dropped off in recent weeks and he was benched for the West Ham fixture.
Anfield legend Souness believes Salah has ‘had his head turned’ by a possible Saudi move and says there is ‘every chance’ he will leave Liverpool this summer.
‘I think there’s a real chance,’ Souness told talkSPORT when asked if he can see Salah leaving the club at the end of the season.
‘There’s every chance he did a deal with Liverpool at the end of last season saying he’ll give them one more year and then go. A bit like [Cristiano] Ronaldo did at Manchester United before going off to Real Madrid.
‘I think there’s every possibility that is the case. Salah is 32 now, he’s been marvellous for Liverpool, but I think he’s had his head turned by the Saudi interest.
‘I think there’s every chance he will move to Saudi this summer.’
Despite interest from Saudi and the bust-up with Klopp at West Ham, reports say Liverpool expect Salah to stay at Anfield for at least one more season.
The Egyptian forward was dropped for Liverpool’s clash with West Ham after failing to score from open play in eight games.
Klopp was preparing to bring Salah on at the London Stadium when they had an altercation. Klopp played down the incident after the match but the pair avoided each other when the full-time whistle was blown.
‘We spoke already in the dressing room and for me it’s done for me,’ Klopp said. ‘That’s all and that is it.’
Asked if Salah was okay with the situation, Klopp added: ‘That was my impression, yes.’
Liverpool’s draw with West Ham – coupled with Arsenal and Manchester City’s wins over Tottenham and Nottingham Forest respectively – leave Klopp’s side five points behind in the title race with three games remaining.
The Reds play host to Tottenham next weekend before finishing the 2023-24 campaign against Champions League-chasing Aston Villa and mid-table Wolves.
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