Mohamed Salah: 'I want to stay in Liverpool'

As Neil Andrew noted for SI.com last month, Barcelona manager Xavi is reportedly targeting Liverpool star and two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner Mohamed Salah for his rebuild of the Spanish giants. 

Per ESPN's Aramide Oladipo and Joe Prince-Wright of NBC Sports, Salah is out of contract after the 2022-23 European season but recently remarked he's keen on remaining with the English side where he's hoisted the Premier League and Champions League trophies. 

"I said it several times, if the decision is up to me, I want to stay in Liverpool," Salah said. "But the decision is in the hands of the management and they have to solve this issue. There is no problem but we have to reach an agreement for the contract. It’s up to them. Your financial value shows how much the club appreciates you and that they are ready to do anything for you to stay, but the decision itself is not based on those financial matters only. There are things like the ambition of the team and the coach and what he wants to do with the team and the players he wants. These are all important points when making the decision." 

The 29-year-old admitted he is flattered by Xavi’s interest in him but insisted he's happy at Liverpool. 

Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told reporters during his Monday news conference he's not concerned about this particular situation during the busy festive period. 

"You know what he is about. We're talking," Klopp explained. "Extending a contract with a player like Mo is not a thing you do where you meet for a cup of tea in the afternoon and find an agreement, that's completely normal.

"There's really nothing else to say. Mo speaks about it when he is asked about it, I can only say a few things because all of the rest is not for the public obviously but I'm not sure if he gave the interview in English or it was translated [wrongly] and arrived in English and that is an issue we saw in the last few days again.

"Mo is fine, I am fine, I think what we all want is clear, and things like this need time."

Following the weekend's fixtures, Liverpool sit second in the Premier League table on 34 points, one point behind reigning champions Manchester City.