Nicol urges Liverpool to cash in as big Salah question looms

Massive choices usually arrive lengthy earlier than you intend for them, and the most recent dialogue round Salah appears like one other second the place Liverpool are being pushed right into a debate we didn’t begin.

Former Liverpool defender says promoting Salah is smart

Steve Nicol informed ESPN FC that if a serious provide arrives, “sure. Why wouldn’t you? Why wouldn’t you?” when requested whether or not Liverpool ought to promote Salah in January.

The 63-year-old added that “there’s just one place he’s going to go as a result of no person else goes to pay him what he’s getting”, making it clear he sees the Saudi Professional League as the one sensible vacation spot.

Nicol additionally recommended that an sudden bid may nonetheless tempt us, saying: “If any individual is available in and affords you £50m he may nonetheless be value £50 or £60m to the Saudis. So, why wouldn’t you are taking it?”

His argument arrives at a second the place some commentators have been unusually forceful about our No.11, particularly after the weekend’s win with out him.

Paul Merson has already mentioned that Slot ought to maintain the Egyptian on the bench after the West Ham victory, stating that “Salah must be on the bench to get again to his greatest”.

That sentiment contrasts sharply with the defence provided by Wes Brown, who mentioned the ahead “remains to be harmful when he will get the ball at any time” and insisted that questioning his high quality “is just not on”.

These two views present pure pressure, which is why Nicol’s transfer-focused take has added much more noise.

Why the timing of the Salah debate feels off for Liverpool

We simply watched the reigning champions produce one in every of their most managed away performances of the season, and but the dialogue nonetheless circles again to our report scorer below Slot.

The difficulty now’s AFCON.

We all know an extended spell with out him is coming, and that makes dropping, sidelining or promoting him really feel like a unnecessary escalation at a second the place continuity is the whole lot.

Liverpool have already confronted an uncomfortable highlight on criticism of the Egyptian this season.

Seeing as he has scored eight targets in his final seven Premier League video games towards promoted sides and with Sunderland at Anfield subsequent, that issues.

Nicol might imagine shifting on “ultimately” is unavoidable, however pushing for it now ignores what we really want on the pitch this week.

As a result of with Champions League locations in attain once more, Liverpool should select stability over drama and this sudden rush to promote Salah appears like the other.

You possibly can watch Slot’s post-West Ham press convention through Empire of the Kop on YouTube:

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