Liverpool plan to pay star's 'full release clause' but face Mo Salah wages issue

Liverpool could be set for showdown talks with Mo Salah this summer if the club presses ahead with signing La Liga star Nico Williams. The 21-year-old winger excelled for Athletic Bilbao last season, and has further enhanced his prospects of a big money move after impressing for Spain at Euro 2024.

And Liverpool are now being heavily linked with a bid as Arne Slot looks to mark his arrival at Anfield with a statement signing.

Slot faces a fight to keep Luis Diaz at the club this summer with the Colombian expected to move to Barcelona, with Williams viewed as an ideal replacement after the club failed to come to an agreement with Newcastle over a move for Anthony Gordon.

According to reports in Spain, the Premier League club are ready to pay Bilbao the required amount to activate the release clause of their key man. The Basque side have not publicly released the clause, but it is reportedly in the region of £45million.

However, the Osasuna youth product is also also said to want wages of £300,00-a-week. That would put him just behind Salah in the list of Liverpool’s highest earners, with the Egyptian international on a deal worth nearly £350,000-a-week.

The 32-year-old put pen to paper back in the summer of 2022 following lengthy negotiations. And he could now be on a collision course with the club if Williams arrives at Anfield on the money he desires.

Salah’s future remains the subject of intense speculation, with Saudi Pro League chiefs again expected to come in for him during the summer transfer window. And with 12 months left on his deal, Slot and co must decide whether to cash in or risk losing him on a free in 12 months’ time.

But the club’s leading Premier League scorer is likely to want an improved deal, which would leave the club having to negotiate an inflated wage bill if he’s to play alongside Williams. And given his age, such a deal would represent a long-term risk.

Al Ittihad caused unrest at Liverpool last summer by making a £150m bid for Salah late in the transfer window, which the club duly turned down. They are unlikely to get the same money this time around, but will be braced for further bids before the 2024/25 campaign begins.

Salah’s future was thrown into further doubt at the tail-end of last season, falling out with Jurgen Klopp in the 2-2 draw at West Ham. The pair rowed on the touchline as the forward was waiting to go on, over an apparent disagreement on how quickly Salah had reacted too being called by the manager.

He’s also remained coy on his transfer intentions, refusing to rule out a move elsewhere. However, after Klopp signed off with a home win over Wolves on the final day, Salah did insist he is focussed on his future at Anfield.