Liverpool manager Arne Slot has indicated the club is open to potential sales during the January transfer window, coinciding with the imminent return of Mohamed Salah from the Africa Cup of Nations. Salah is scheduled to return to Liverpool's training ground next week, with the club actively discussing his reintegration and assessing his physical condition.
Slot expressed his excitement about Salah's return, emphasizing the Egyptian forward's continued importance to the team. "I'm happy he's coming back. If I had 15 attackers, I would still be happy to have him back,” Slot told reporters ahead of Saturday's home game against Burnley. Despite Salah's importance, Slot's comments suggest a willingness to consider offers for other players if they benefit the club's long-term strategy.
Salah's return follows Egypt's semi-final defeat to Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations. He is expected to play one more game for Egypt in the third-place match against Nigeria on Saturday before returning to Liverpool. Due to the timing of his return, Salah will not be available for the upcoming match against Burnley this weekend. However, discussions are underway regarding his potential involvement in the Champions League fixture against Marseille on Wednesday.
The January transfer window is always a period of speculation, and Liverpool is no exception. Slot's openness to sales suggests he is ready to reshape the squad to his liking, even though Salah is expected to stay with the Reds for the remainder of the current season. This stance comes after reports of a potential falling-out between Salah and Slot just weeks ago. Following a 3-3 draw at Leeds United, Salah reportedly accused the club of throwing him "under the bus" and claimed his relationship with Slot had broken down. He had been left on the bench for three matches and had not started for Liverpool since November.
Despite the earlier tension, Slot appears keen to move forward with Salah as a key part of his plans. Salah's last appearance for Liverpool was in mid-December against Brighton, after being dropped for the Champions League game against Inter Milan. Before departing for AFCON, Salah hinted that the Brighton game could be his last for Liverpool, fueling speculation about a January move. However, those rumors have subsided, with David Ornstein reporting that Salah is expected to remain at Liverpool for the rest of the season.
Liverpool are currently fourth in the Premier League, 14 points behind leaders Arsenal. Slot acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, "Ideally it's not 11 games unbeaten, it's 11 wins in a row. That is what we aim for". The return of Salah will undoubtedly boost Liverpool's attacking options and provide a significant lift to the team as they strive to secure Champions League qualification. Slot is carefully balancing timing, ambition, and risk, as Liverpool's season once again begins to revolve around Mohamed Salah.
