Liverpool urged to cash in as Mo Salah offer revealed, Newcastle 'very confident' in transfer U-turn

There are just a handful of games left in the 2023/24 Premier League season and following a rollercoaster run at both the top and bottom of the table, we can expect an entertaining summer transfer window for most clubs.

With Manchester City and Arsenal pulling away from Liverpool in the title race, and Jurgen Klopp stepping down at the end of the season, the Reds are expected to undergo quite the transformation this summer. Not only will there be a new manager in town, but some big new signings are almost guaranteed, and some potential big exits have also been discussed in recent reports.

Let’s dive into the latest for Liverpool ahead of their new era, as well as news on a potential Newcastle United U-turn.

Reds urged to sell Salah as new fee emerges

Mohamed Salah’s future remains one of the most-discussed topics in world football. Saudi Arabia fought tooth and nail for his signature last summer but Liverpool were not budging. Even after a record-breaking bid, the Reds were firm on keeping their star attacker for this season.

With Salah now into the final 12 months of his contract, many thought the money involved in a potential sale would dramatically drop, but that seems to be far from the case. According to an update from Football Insider, Saudi Arabia have an idea of what they want to offer for Salah this time round.

Former Aston Villa and Everton chief Keith Wyness spoke on the latest Inside Track podcast and claimed a nine-figure bid is once again being discussed for the 31-year-old sensation.

“With one year left on his contract at 31, the numbers I’m hearing from Saudi sources are around £70 million plus add-ons of around another £30 million. I believe those add-ons will be pretty achievable in the Saudi Pro League, in terms of goals and trophies. That’s the number we’re looking at, which gives them the magic headline number of £100million. I think Liverpool would be right to cash in on him now.

“I think Liverpool should do it this summer. It’s a lot of money with just one year left, and it would be wise to take it right now.”

The 3AM Verdict: Most Liverpool fans seem to have made peace with this being Salah’s last season at Anfield. The money on offer last summer was utterly eye-popping and for Saudi Arabia to return with another £100 million figure, it’s too good to turn down. Salah’s talent is invaluable but if the Reds can’t convince him to sign a new deal, they run a huge risk of losing him for nothing next year if they don’t sell now. Today’s market prices are constantly rising but £100m would buy Liverpool a very, very good replacement for their record-breaking Egyptian. It will be a bittersweet move, but one that is integral for the future of the club.

Newcastle go back on transfer decision

Newcastle have been looking at players to offload this summer as they prioritise raising funds in order to stay within their spending budget. Recent reports have linked Bruno Guimarães with an exit from St James’ Park as the club have considered sacrificing him and his hefty release clause in order to adhere to Financial Fair Play guidelines. The Brazilian’s recent contract extension included a £100 million release clause, which would bring a handsome amount of money to the club.

However, despite interest in Guimarães, Newcastle are now ‘very confident’ of keeping the midfielder at the club beyond this season. That’s according to Football Insider, who report that Eddie Howe is now looking elsewhere in the ranks to trim the fat and raise funds. Guimarães is certainly a fan favourite thanks to his stellar performances but there is still the chance that a club could be willing to offer the full £100m for his services.

The 3AM Verdict: After £100m and upwards signings of the likes of Declan Rice and Moisés Caicedo, the price of midfielders has shot up astronomically, so it wouldn’t be out of this world to see a club pay the same for Guimarães. As a defensive midfielder with six goals and six assists this season, the 26-year-old is a very attractive target but Newcastle aren’t wrong to back themselves in keeping hold of him. This season hasn’t been a carbon copy of the last for Newcastle, but they are still enjoying big wins and have a lot of scope to continue to challenge in the top four.