- 14 hours ago
Salah lined up as Messi replacement at PSG
Stuart Telford
- 25 Feb 2023 11:33 GMT
- 3 min read
'First contact' has reportedly been made between Mohamed Salah and Paris Saint-Germain as the French champions prepare for life without Lionel Messi.
Liverpool superstar Salah has been lined up as Messi's replacement in case the Argentine decides against extending his deal in the French capital.
Messi is out of contract at the Parc des Princes at the end of the season, and his friend and former Argentina teammate Sergio Aguero recently claimed he was bound for first club Newell's Old Boys in his native Rosario.
READ: Messi deals PSG and Inter Miami transfer blow by telling Aguero his plans
Salah has struggled by his own high standards this season, meanwhile, and next summer could be the last in which Liverpool could extract a maximum transfer fee with the Egyptian turning 31 in June.
Messi out, Salah in?
"In the event of Messi's farewell in the summer, PSG have already identified a possible replacement in Salah," TV Dello Sport journalist Rudy Galetti posted on Twitter.
"First contact with Egyptian player has already taken place. The contract of the Liverpool right winger will expire in 2025. Evolving situation."
A photo shared with me by @JK1O_ of what looks like Mo Salah having a meal with PSG chairman Nasser Al Khelaifi somewhere in London. Mo posted a photo of himself with that white colourful sweatshirt on instagram. No confirmation if him/when this was. Take it for what it’s worth. pic.twitter.com/QxTa7lcDUP
— Moby (@Mobyhaque1) January 16, 2023
READ: How will Liverpool line up next season?
Salah was pictured dining with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi at an expensive London restaurant in January, with Al-Khelaifi's Qatar Sports Investments linked with a bid for Liverpool.
But now Liverpool's John Henry has said that his Fenway Sports Group have decided against selling the Reds, widening the potential scope of Salah's conversation with the PSG owner.
Liverpool are only eighth in the Premier League table this season, seven points away from the Champions League places, but Salah has shown glimpses of his undoubted ability.
The Egyptian winger has contributed 19 goals and nine assists from 34 games in all competitions, and would undoubtedly be a miss at Anfield.
Salah is valued at €67.4 million by FootballTransfers in-house algorithm, although Liverpool would likely demand more, while PSG are one of a handful of clubs in world football who could afford to acquire him.
