Mohamed Salah's contract situation has multiple layers, though Cesc Fabregas made it clear which way the Egyptian star might lean.
The 32-year-old is in the final year of his contract, with the deal set to expire next summer. Although Salah has led Liverpool to massive success since his tenure began, there have been rumors surrounding what he will do, whether that is staying with the club or looking at opportunities elsewhere.
Although Salah has not stated what he intends to do when the time comes, Fabregas believes he has an idea of the star's next move. Salah and Fabregas both played together at Chelsea and thus have a better understanding of what goes in the forward's mind.
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Speaking with BBC on "Planet Premier League", the head coach of Como all but confirmed this season would be Salah's last at Anfield. "Knowing Mo a little bit, he will send a message because he really feels that this is last year and he will move on at the end," Fabregas said.
That said, it remains to be seen how trustworthy Fabregas' words are, even if they have spent time in the same dressing room in the past. Salah has not made it known what he plans to do, as he explained to Daniel Sturridge after Liverpool's 3-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
"Honestly, I had a good summer. I had a long time to just stay with myself and try to think positive because as you know, it's my last year at the club," Salah explained. "I just want to enjoy it and I don't want to think about it. But I feel like I'm free to play football and we'll see what's going to happen next year."
What's more, the star put the onus on the club to make a contract happen, essentially claiming the ball is in their court. "Coming into the game, I said it could be the last time [I play here with Liverpool]," Salah continued.
"No one at the club has spoken to me about contracts, so I'm just like, 'OK, I'm playing my last season' and see what happens at the end of the season. So far, we don't know with which club, but so far yeah my last game here with Liverpool. It's not up to me but nobody talk to me about a contract."
In the end, Fabregas believes Salah just wants to know what his future looks like and, ultimately, where he will be playing. "I think he doesn’t care what’s happening [about boardroom changes], he wants to just be told what’s happening," he continued. "Once he made that statement, it’s because he has thought very, very well about what he wants to say and is sending a clear message.
"From what I think and what I see in football, I think they are a very stable club. They have very clear ideas of what they want to do. How they want to do it. They have plans ahead.
"That’s why I talk about how surprising it is about the situation of Mo Salah or [Virgil] van Dijk because they come across as always having the right plan ahead for the future. They have a great feeling about how things should be done and I respect that."
