Liverpool could find themselves with increased financial flexibility in the January transfer window if Mohamed Salah leaves Anfield, according to football finance expert Kieran Maguire. The Egyptian forward has 18 months remaining on his contract and has been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League, which could provide a significant boost to the club's spending power.
Maguire explained that Salah's departure would free up his substantial wages, estimated at around £15 million per year, and any transfer fee received would be pure profit due to his long tenure at the club. He suggested Liverpool could command between £60 million and £70 million for the 31-year-old, despite his recent dip in form.
The club's owner, John W Henry of Fenway Sports Group, has a net worth of approximately £4.2 billion according to Forbes. However, Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) mean that spending is not simply a matter of deep pockets. Liverpool invested heavily last summer, spending over £400 million on new players while generating around £190 million from departures.
Maguire noted that Liverpool's previous losses were not severe enough to breach PSR, giving them capacity to spend. He highlighted that the cost of a new signing is spread over the length of their contract, meaning a £50 million player in January would only cost £5 million in the current accounting period. This, combined with the potential sale of Salah, could enable Liverpool to pursue a replacement such as Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi, whose proposed move collapsed on deadline day.
“If they felt that was the difference between qualifying and not qualifying for the Champions League, then it's a no-brainer. You go for it,” Maguire said, emphasising the importance of finishing in the top five positions to secure Champions League participation.
