KEY POINTS

  • Mo Salah is contracted with Liverpool until 2023
  • He has netted 15 goals in as many games for Liverpool this season
  • His contract extension talks are underway with the club

FC Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez reportedly wants Liverpool FC forward Mohamed Salah "at all costs."

Xavi is looking to strengthen Barcelona's attack and has short-listed Salah, who many experts believe is a "Messi-like" forward. Barcelona are silently monitoring Salah's situation in Anfield, reported Spanish publication El Nacional.

But Barcelona are believed to be in a massive debt of around $1.3 billion and the Catalans' ability to sign Salah will depend on both their financial recovery and the player's contract situation at Liverpool, according to Football365.

Salah's current contract at Liverpool is due to expire in 2023 and talks regarding an extension are already underway at Anfield. It has been reported that the Egyptian has demanded a weekly wage of around $550,000 as a part of his new contract with the Anfield side.

Being one of the best players in the world right now, Salah netted 142 competitive goals for Liverpool since his Reds debut in 2017 and helped the side win several laurels, including their maiden Premier League trophy in the 2019-20 campaign.

It is understood that Salah is more than happy to remain with the Merseyside club, provided the Reds responded with a new deal that would justify his talent and contributions. If Liverpool agree to Salah's demands, the 29-year-old winger would become the club's highest-paid player.

Even though Salah would be 30 next year, Xavi has no doubt about the Egyptian King's potential and wants him on his squad next summer, according to the El Nacional report. It also claimed that Barcelona was going after Salah because of Real Madrid's pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe.

Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring Liverpool's fifth goal, and his third, at Old Trafford
Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring Liverpool's fifth goal, and his third, at Old Trafford AFP / Oli SCARFF

Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton earlier claimed that Salah is "better" than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Salah, who has also played for Chelsea earlier in his career, is in a fiery form in the 2021-22 campaign for Liverpool. He has scored 15 goals in as many matches, which includes scoring in 10 consecutive competitive matches, becoming the first Reds player to do so.

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