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Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has been in white-hot form for the Reds, scoring goals seemingly at will, so naturally it was just a matter of time before he was linked with one of the continental powerhouses.
Thanks in part to Salah’s efforts, Egypt will be heading to next year’s World Cup in Russia. Now, their national team manager Héctor Cúper has casually ruined many a Liverpool supporter’s day by making an offhand remark - which has since been picked up in a number of outlets - indicating that La Liga moneybags Real Madrid are interested in acquiring the scintillating winger.
“A very reliable source has told me that Real Madrid are interested in Salah,” said Cúper to Egyptian network ON Sports TV. “There is no need to rush at the moment, Salah is in a fantastic position right now.”
Since then, some other outlets have picked up the thread, suggesting that Real Madrid might make a move for Salah as early as the upcoming January window. The reason for the urgency? It seems Real Madrid are coming to terms with the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo, despite his almost superhuman attention to his physical fitness, might not be immune to the effects of aging. What better time to pluck some fresh, exciting talent from the Premier League?
Admittedly, the support for this claim is fairly thin, and based in part on Cúper’s own remarks. Could a Real Madrid or somebody similar be plotting to take Salah off Jürgen Klopp’s hands? Sure, especially if Salah continues lighting up the league in the manner he has been doing, but it’s highly unlikely anything concrete will be done in January.
Having just joined from Roma, Salah is under contract with Liverpool until 2022, and given the stern resistance Liverpool put up in connection with the Coutinho-Barcelona affair, it’s exceedingly unlikely the club would even countenance a discussion about their inreasingly influential winger at this stage.
Again, assuming he maintains anything close to his current form, the noises about Salah heading to the continent will only intensify over time, but for now, Liverpool supporters should just enjoy the ride.