Liverpool reach crucial stage in Salah talks amid bonus plan and Ballon d'Or aim

Mohamed Salah is everywhere right now, just ask Manchester United's defenders.

In the aftermath of scoring a fine goal in Liverpool's 5-0 win at Watford - their second most recent victory by that scoreline - Salah was in London to unveil a waxwork model of himself and then present an award at a ceremony attended by Prince William and Kate Middleton. As you do.

Soon after that the forward was being whisked off to Madrid where he'd score twice in the Champions League victory over Atletico, and then it was on to Manchester where he'd bag a hat-trick at Old Trafford.

One, two, three. And all with the look of a man who was finding it so simple.

Salah is indeed making it all look second nature at the moment, and playing with a freedom which suggests that the off-field discussions around him are having no bearing once he steps out onto the pitch.

Salah has been in remarkable form of late ( Image:

AFP via Getty Images)

Yes, those discussions.

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As he's made clear, it would be the Egyptian's preference to remain at Liverpool beyond his current contract which expires in the summer of 2023. Liverpool would like that too, you'd think. Anyone connected to the club would.

And that is still the most likely thing to happen. It's just that it probably has to happen pretty soon.

Reds owners Fenway Sports Group will be acutely aware of Salah's value as a global icon, and one of the sticking points of his contract negotiations is likely to be the earning potential that the Egyptian has. It can quite simply go up and up.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Liverpool pay Salah what he wants? Tell us in the comments section

But that has usually been the case at FSG's Liverpool anyway, and particularly during Jurgen Klopp's time in charge.

The Reds have long operated a fairly fluid bonus structure when it comes to their contracts, with incentives kicking in at various stages and bumping up pay when the team have achieved their various goals, of which many have been achieved in recent seasons.

Salah met Prince William and Kate Middleton at an awards ceremony recently ( Image:

REUTERS)

It is because of those bonus payments that Liverpool have ended up with one of the highest wage bills in world football, but as Salah sets his sights on the Ballon d'Or and has established himself as surely finest human at kicking a football on the planet right now, then surely he could be entitled to expect a fair bit more upfront than he usually gets, even if that would alter FSG's usual model.

The Reds' owners are likely to have to do that though, particularly as the thought of Salah walking away for nothing in the summer of 2023 is so unpalatable.

It all means that we have reached the stage when FSG will have to act, after a sustained period of sticking to their guns and being fairly inactive on a variety of topics.

A break in the wage structure? A change in the incentive payments?

Something like that is the likely and logical outcome.

Because Liverpool, more than anyone, want Salah to still be on everyone's lips for the years to come.

And still wearing red.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Does Mo Salah deserve the Ballon d'Or? Let us know in the comments below