Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has offered his immediate reaction to the news that Mohamed Salah has signed a new two-year contract with the Reds until the end of the 2026-27 season.
The Premier League leaders confirmed on Friday morning that the 32-year-old had put pen to paper on fresh terms, ending a long-running saga that had partially overshadowed Slot's first season at the club.
Slot had to bat away questions about Salah's future almost every week in his press conferences, as the ex-Chelsea and Roma man could have originally walked out of the door for nothing at the end of the season.
However, speaking to journalists in Friday's press conference shortly after Salah's deal was confirmed, the Dutchman revealed that he knew negotiations were heading in the right direction for a while, saying: "For the fans, it's a relief.
"I don't think it's a surprise for you that I knew a bit better how his contract situation went over the course of the whole season. Maybe for the fans, it was a pleasant surprise. But I knew for a bit longer that things were heading in the right direction.
Slot provides Virgil van Dijk latest after new Salah deal confirmed
© Iconsport
"It's also a big compliment to [sporting director] Richard [Hughes] that he has achieved to extend Salah, who is such a great player and as a free agent, can go to any club in the world he wants to. But he has stayed at our club and that's also a compliment to Richard."
Now that Salah has committed his future to Liverpool for the next two seasons as he chases down a host of all-time records, Virgil van Dijk - who is also out of contract at the end of the 2024-25 season - is expected to follow suit imminently.
The 33-year-old remains just as indispensable to the Reds as Salah and recently confirmed to reporters that there had been 'progress' in discussions with the club's hierarchy over a renewal.
However, for as long as Van Dijk's new deal has not been officially announced by the club, Slot is adopting the same tone that he has used throughout the season, adding: "I think you know the answers - the boring answer as always.
Slot: 'We talk about Liverpool contracts when signed'
© Imago
"We talk about contracts if they are signed. In case with Mo [Salah], we are talking about it. As long as it's not signed, we are not talking about it. I can tell you that I am very happy with Virgil this season.
"He's been incredible for us - even in the last few games, where maybe there were moments were he could've done better. But if you look at the other 89 minutes, he is such an important player for us.
"Let's hope he can do the same - I just hope with Mo and he can do the same on Sunday again, being our leader again as he has always been this season, against West Ham."
While Salah has extended his stay and Van Dijk is expected to follow suit, Liverpool are seemingly resigned to losing Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid when his deal runs out this summer.
The Reds' first game since Salah's extension was announced comes at home to West Ham United on Sunday in the Premier League, where Slot's side endeavour to maintain or increase their 11-point lead over Arsenal at the summit.
The Liverpool boss also confirmed that first-choice Alisson Becker will be fit to play on Sunday following concussion protocol, while Conor Bradley is fit to start after coming off the bench in the 3-2 loss to Fulham last week following a hamstring injury.
Ben Knapton
