£36m Liverpool star is now becoming an even bigger liability than Salah

This has been a strange season for Liverpool, and while it’s been tough, there’s a sense that, whatever happens, things will be brighter after a summer break and transfer window.

Of course, should Arne Slot and his Redmen fail to qualify for the Champions League, Anfield could be lurched into a different kind of uncertainty, with fans sure to clamour for the head coach’s sacking and a wealth of fresh talent who might be more hesitant to complete the move, given Liverpool would have ceded their seat among Europe’s elite.

Moreover, Slot is out of contract in just over a year anyway, along with FSG’s Director of Football, Michael Edwards, and Richard Hughes, Liverpool’s sporting director and the man at the top of Al-Hilal’s wishlist to front their project.

And the question marks don’t stop there, with Mohamed Salah‘s future a talking point amid an abject season by the Egyptian’s standards.

What’s gone wrong with Mohamed Salah

Salah enjoyed himself in midweek, with a goal-and-assist performance against Galatasaray recalling something of the 33-year-old’s former quality in the danger area.

However, he wasn’t without his flaws, missing a penalty in the first half and a couple more good chances besides. The veteran has largely been ineffective and shorn of confidence this season, and he can’t see out the remainder of his £400k-per-week contract (which expires in 14 months) if he doesn’t improve.

Of course, Salah turns 34 this summer, and after a lifetime of incredible service at the front of the Anfield ship, it might be time for a change.

Wastefulness, a new blot on Salah’s copybook, has negated his strength as an elite forward. His athletic and physical metrics have declined over the past several years, but he has been so prolific that it hasn’t mattered.

Salah’s Form in 25/26
Stats (* per 90)	PL	UCL
Matches (starts)	22 (19)	9 (7)
Goals	5	3
Assists	6	2
Shots (on target)*	2.6 (0.6)	2.8 (1.3)
Big chances missed	10	9
Accurate passes*	21.6 (75%)	19.1 (80%)
Big chances created	10	8
Key passes*	2.0	2.3
Crosses*	0.7	1.2
Succ. dribbles*	0.5 (23%)	1.2 (38%)
Recoveries*	3.0	2.2
Tackles + interceptions*	0.7	1.5
Duels won*	2.1 (30%)	3.0 (40%)

Interest from Saudi Arabia has been prominent for a number of years, and if Hughes does move to Al Hilal, you can bet your bottom dollar that signing Salah will be on his agenda.

Maybe that would be for the best, a bumper move at the autumn of his career, allowing Liverpool to search for a top-class successor.

However, Salah’s not the only superstar who might leave, with another, younger peer becoming an even bigger liability than him this season.

FSG must part with struggling Liverpool star

How do Liverpool get themselves back on track? It might be that the newbies needed a bit of time to integrate, and can now look forward to more synergetic play.

However, Ibrahima Konate is one of the most experienced players in the squad, and his efforts throughout the campaign have left too much to be desired.

The 26-year-old is out of contract at the end of the campaign, and despite Hughes’ best efforts over a protracted period, there has been little joy in extending that deal. Real Madrid are long-time admirers, but the truth is that Konate will have no shortage of suitors.

During the first leg defeat to Galatasaray, Konate was dismal – and incredibly fortunate to have avoided a costly blunder after his succession of mistakes came to nought due to an offside call from the officials.

The France international has played an instrumental role in Liverpool’s success over the past several years, going from strength to strength since joining from RB Leipzig for £36m back in 2021, but he is now a seasoned member of Slot’s squad and has failed to eliminate the glaring flaws from his game.

It’s a tricky one for the board. Virgil van Dijk is getting old, and Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni will be utilised next season on the premise that they, with a combined age of 39, can operate effectively without much experience and having both come back from long-term injury layoffs.

Perhaps Liverpool would need to dip their toes back into the market this summer. That’s going to frustrate FSG somewhat, but Konate cannot stay around simply because of the numerical advantage he would provide.

Especially when you consider that Jacquet has the makings of a world-class centre-back boasting similar skills. Konate’s compatriot was the centre of a £60m agreement between Liverpool and Rennes in January, and he links up with the Merseysiders for pre-season this summer.

There’s a case to be made that Konate should stay put, but he’s been one of the biggest culprits for Liverpool’s downfall this season, and while Salah has been disappointing, he is getting old and it’s understandable.

Konate, however, has no such excuses for his error-strewn displays.