Arne Slot on collision course with Liverpool chiefs as Mohamed Salah plans put in motion

has made it clear where he stands on Mohamed Salah's future to his Liverpool bosses as they face making a final decision. The winger is yet to receive a contract offer to extend his stay at Anfield beyond his current deal, and the club's plans for next summer indicate they may be willing to bid farewell to one of the finest players in their history.

The Egyptian star has scored 220 goals and registered 96 assists in 364 games for the club, elevating himself to legendary status at Anfield.

Slot may only be 16 games into his Liverpool reign, but the 46-year-old has acknowledged the importance of keeping the experienced forward in his squad.

Speaking ahead of their Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen, Slot said of Salah: "The only thing that I think about is that he's so important for us, scores important goals, works hard for the team and I'm hoping that he can enjoy that feeling [scoring at Anfield] many, many many more times.

"Especially if I'm here. But even if I'm not here I'm still hoping for him that he can do this many more times. He's been incredible for Liverpool for the past six, seven eight years, I don't know exactly how long he's been here, and he's been incredible for us this season.

"I hope he can continue doing this for the rest of the season and maybe longer to come. But that's something up to him and the club to find the idea about the future."

Based on Slot's glowing praise and the fact he has started all 10 of their Premier League matches this season, it's fair to assume the Dutchman is keen for Salah to remain at Anfield for the foreseeable future. But that is far from being considered a certainty.

His current deal worth £350,000 a week expires in June 2025 and he will be free to speak to foreign clubs regarding a pre-contract agreement as early as January 1. As it stands, Salah claims he hasn't been offered fresh terms to extend his stay on Merseyside, which is surprising after scoring seven goals and assisting five this season.

Speculation refuses to die down that Liverpool's recruitment team have their sights firmly set on the future beyond Salah and are ironically looking at another Egyptian forward. Eintracht Frankfurt's Omar Marmoush, who has already fired 10 goals and six assists in just nine Bundesliga appearances for the German club, is a £50million target for the Reds.

Sky Germany reported in October that Liverpool maintain a 'serious interest' in signing Marmoush, although if they do launch a move, it would likely be next summer rather than in January. And BILD added to that by suggesting the Reds had contacted Marmoush's representatives to discuss a potential move to the Premier League.

Given that they already have a pool of attacking talent in their mid-20s in Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo, Salah is the odd one out as he turns 33 in June. While the Anfield icon continues to defy stereotypes relating to players declining in their 30s, Liverpool are begrudgingly aware they have to replace him at some point - and Marmoush might be the answer.

Slot will allow the senior management to deal with Salah's contract situation and, in the meantime, he will continue to reap the rewards from the 'Egyptian King's' efforts on the pitch.

But for sporting director Richard Hughes and head of football Michael Edwards, going against Slot's wishes may prove to be a costly mistake if it means upsetting their new manager.