How Liverpool negotiated Mohamed Salah’s last contract renewal

In the summer of 2022, Mo Salah signed a new three-year Liverpool contract, but it was not a straightforward process. In an extract from a new book about the Egyptian, we discover how the club negotiated the deal:

Extract from ‘Chasing Salah: The Biography‘, written by Simon Hughes.


One thing each party could agree on was the length of a new deal. Another three years would potentially see Salah remain at Liverpool until he was thirty-three.

The main sticking point was the balance between fixed pay and bonuses. Liverpool wanted to weigh a deal more in favour of Salahโ€™s performance while the player and his agent wanted greater guarantees.

Ramy Abbas was adamant that any variable agreement should be based on his output over the previous seasons rather than any expected decline because of his age. This would see the total value of his contract increase โ€˜significantlyโ€™, making Salah the highest-paid player in Liverpoolโ€™s history.

It was the player and his representativeโ€™s view that, ultimately, Liverpoolโ€™s insistence on the contract being weighted heavily on incentives made any deal more complex, contributing towards the whole process dragging on.

Abbas and Salah came up with a strategy to move it along and to react to certain events taking place in any subsequent negotiations. The discussions between Dubai and El Gouna involved consideration as to whether or not Salahโ€™s remuneration for goals and assists should be capped, and whether these bonuses should be paid as they happened on the pitch or as a lump sum when milestones were passed.

Abbas also knew that Ward was keen to ensure that certain team-related performance bonuses were dependent on Salahโ€™s contributions. Abbas calculated Liverpool would be interested in seizing some of the playerโ€™s image rights.

His projected earnings over the next few seasons were between โ‚ฌ54 million (?45 million) and โ‚ฌ62 million (?52 million) per year. If the club could benefit from using Salahโ€™s name and face financially, it might prompt them to drive up their own offer to the player.

LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, August 13, 2023: Ramy Abbas Issa, football agent for Liverpool's Mohamed Salah seen before the FA Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC at Stamford Bridge. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Abbas knew he was taking a risk. What if Liverpool stalled or walked away from the table entirely, then Salah got injured the following season? He spoke to the player about taking out extra medical insurance, though it was the lawyerโ€™s view that a long-term playing contract was the โ€˜best insurance you can haveโ€™.

For Abbas, it was the toughest deal of his career. It would have been easier for Salah to move on and join another club. Yet he fired off an email with the playerโ€™s final proposals to Gordon and waited.

Re-signing Salah ended up costing Liverpool nearly ?55 million. His three-year contract was worth ?350,000 per week basic. If he did well for Liverpool, that figure would be pushed towards ?400,000. It easily made him the highest-paid player in the clubโ€™s history.

Mike Gordon had steered the negotiations entirely but Julian Ward was pictured on the photographs when Salah signed the deal beside Ramy Abbas on the Greek island of Mykonos, where he was enjoying another holiday.

Deep down, Abbas had been wondering whether or not Liverpool really wanted to do the deal because of their reluctance. When the offer came through that clinched an agreement, he even sensed that Liverpool secretly hoped they might reject it.

Klopp, meanwhile, was relieved the saga was over. “Itโ€™s the best decision for us and best decision for him,” he said. “He belongs with us I think. This is his club now.”

Klopp understood that Salah was one of the best players in the world and this meant negotiations were always going to be far from straightforward.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, January 1, 2024: Liverpool's manager Jรผrgen Klopp embraces two-goal hero Mohamed Salah after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United FC on New Year's Day at Anfield. Liverpool won 4-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

“I have no doubt Moโ€™s best years are still to come,” he added. “And thatโ€™s saying something, because the first five seasons here have been the stuff of legend. Fitness-wise, heโ€™s a machine โ€“ in the most incredible shape. He works hard on it and he gets his rewards. His ability and his skill level get higher each season, and his decision making has gone to another level also. He is adored by his teammates. As coaches we know we work with someone special. It means we can achieve more together.”

Salahโ€™s willingness to commit to a variety of performance-related bonuses relating to goals and assists was a sign of the confidence in himself. “I feel great and I am excited to win trophies with the club,” he said. “Itโ€™s a happy day for everyone. We are in a good position to fight for everything.”

Except, Salah was largely unaware of an upheaval behind the scenes at Liverpool that would impact upon the way the club recruited its players over the next two seasons and would have a major bearing on the teamโ€™s output.

Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool. Picture date: Sunday October 16, 2022.

After barely six months as sporting director, Ward was beginning to feel that the balance of power at Liverpool was tilting further towards Klopp. Rather than reaching decisions by consensus, the manager and the owners were increasingly working things out between themselves, with Ward acting on instruction.

Other departments were left in the dark over key decisions. This contributed to the departure of Ian Graham, the clubโ€™s head of research, who handed in his notice soon after a recruitment meeting in the summer of 2022 that lasted barely ninety minutes.

At the end of the meeting โ€“ which also involved Klopp and the owners โ€“ everyone outside the inner circle was informed that Liverpool were signing Darwin Nunez from Benfica for what would potentially be a record transfer fee of ?85 million, if the Uruguayan forward hit certain milestones.

Members of Liverpoolโ€™s data team had looked at Nunez and were uncertain that he would fit the teamโ€™s style. While Sadio Mane was replaced by Luis Diaz earlier that year, with Ward taking much of the credit for getting the deal over the line despite competition from Tottenham Hotspur, Nunez was essentially coming in to succeed Roberto Firmino.

Both Nunez and Firmino were willing runners, but they were effective in different areas of the pitch, with Firmino often dropping deeper and Nunez more dangerous higher up. Firmino was a play-maker, bringing others into the game, while Nunez was viewed as more of an individual whose game needed rounding off.


The above is an extract from ‘Chasing Salah: The Biography‘, written by Simon Hughes. It is out now in hardback, eBook and audio here.

universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
soxtry.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
maw-pr.com
zaaksen.com
ypxsptbfd7.com
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
onlinenewsofindia.com
worldgraphic-team.com
bnsrz.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
webmanicura.com
osostore.com
softsmob.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
odskc.com
inzziln.info
leaiiln.info
cq-oa.com
dqtianshun.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
bartoysdirect.com
taquerialoscompadresdc.com
aaoodln.info
amcckln.info
drvrnln.info
dwabmln.info
fcsjoln.info
hlonxln.info
kcmeiln.info
kplrrln.info
fatcatoons.com
91guoys.com
signupforfreehosting.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
topsedu.xyz
xmxm7.com
x332.xyz
sportstrainingblog.com
autopartspares.com
readguy.net
soniasegreto.com
bobbygdavis.com
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
qazwsxedcokmijn.com
parabis.net
terriesandelin.com
luxuryhomme.com
studyexpanse.com
ronoom.com
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
snn01.com
hope-kelley.com
bancodeprofissionais.com
zjccp99.com
liturgycreator.com
weedsmj.com
majorelenco.com
colcollect.com
androidnews-jp.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
nova-click.com
abeautifulcrazylife.com
diggmobile.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
sizam-design.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
bamthemes.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com
avgo.top