MO SALAH says he cannot be “selfish” over his new deal and risk derailing Liverpool’s quest for the Quadruple.
The Reds striker, 29, has just 16 months left on his contract and revealed talks are “sensitive” ahead of Sunday’s Premier League title showdown at Manchester City.
But he said: “There are many things people don’t know about it.
“I can’t be selfish and talk about my situation because we are in the most important period for the team.
“So I just have to talk about the team, focus on what is coming for the team — that’s the most important thing.
“That’s all I can say. Hopefully we are going to be more optimistic and see what is going to happen.”
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Twelve players who have played for Liverpool and Man City in the Prem era
Salah said in January that he was “not asking for crazy stuff”, although he is understood to be asking to be made the Reds’ highest-paid player on £350,000 a week.
Owners FSG have been refusing to budge, determined not to break their wage scale that currently sees Virgil van Dijk the top earner on £225,000 a week.
So is Salah, contracted until June 2023, confident he will sign a longer-term deal to stay?
He added: “I can’t say. I’ve said many times before what I want but I can’t really go deep into the contract now because it is a really sensitive situation.
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“The team need to win. I can’t go in the news and talk about the contract now, I am just focused on the team. That’s it.”
Boss Jurgen Klopp claims he is happy with Salah despite subbing him off twice in successive games against Benfica and Watford following his World Cup exit against Senegal last month.
And top scorer Salah, who has netted 28 goals but has not found the back of the net from open play in seven games, is adamant the future talk has not affected his performances.
He said: “Not at all. I have talked to the manager from time to time. I am very professional, I know my job very well.
“I’m almost the first and last one to leave. I know what I am doing. I’m not bothered about that.
“I’m just focussing with the team and that is the most important thing for me, focus to win trophies and I’m just giving everything for the club.”