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Liverpool's stance on Mohamed Salah transfer exit as Barcelona make star their top target
Liverpool don't want to lose Mohamed Salah this summer.
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Liverpool won’t consider letting Mohamed Salah leave the club this summer, despite interest from Barcelona, according to The Athletic. Barcelona have reportedly made Salah their top transfer target for the summer window.
Barcelona are in the middle of a rebuild at the moment, and are expected to offload multiple players this summer.
Ronald Koeman wants to sign a new forward, with Luis Suarez set to depart, and Salah is their top target.
Salah, the two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner, has been tentatively linked with a move away from Anfield before, with Real Madrid believed to be interested.
However, their La Liga rivals have now identified him as a focal point for ftheir new-look side.
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Due to financial issues at the Nou Camp, they have to sell players before they can sign anyone, and have already scrapped a big-money move for Lautaro Martinez.
However, Sjaak Swart, who is friends with Koeman, revealed this week that Salah is keen on a move to Barca.
He said: “I know Koeman wants him – and I know Salah would like to go.”
“I am not going into any more details, but just believe me that I know.”
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Barcelona have made no secret of their desire to sign a new striker this summer, and are reportedly close to signing Memphis Depay from Lyon.
But it seems unlikely they will sign Liverpool, as the Premier League champions value him at £200million - more than they are able to pay.
In a Q&A with Liverpool fans, James Pearce of The Athletic insisted Barcelona would have no way of getting anywhere near the club’s valuation.
Asked about the rumours, Pearce said: “Zero. It’s probably the most ludicrous rumour I’ve heard all summer. How much is Salah worth? £200 million?
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“For a start, Barca have got major financial problems and wouldn’t be able to get even close to that.
“Then you’ve got the fact that Liverpool wouldn’t even consider selling him anyway.
“Also, Barca are such a mess currently that moving there from Liverpool at the moment would be a big step down.
“Sleep easy. Salah isn’t going anywhere.”
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