Mohamed Salah could have already played his final match for Liverpool before the January transfer window, having now departed for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Former Manchester United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that despite returning to Liverpool’s first-team squad, the 33-year-old forward remains unhappy. Salah was warmly welcomed by fans when he came on during Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Brighton, showing strong backing for the club legend.
However, there is a belief that the problems behind his frustration have not fully been resolved, even if they have been temporarily set aside for the team’s benefit. A January move is still considered unlikely, though, due to his AFCON commitments and his continued importance to Liverpool.
Football Insider reported on 7 December that a January exit is not expected, although a summer departure could be revisited. Brown, who spent over a decade recruiting top players at Manchester United, said it would be surprising if Salah left Anfield in January.
Brown admitted he was disappointed by Salah’s public comments, stressing that during difficult periods, leaders should respond on the pitch rather than cause disruption. While Salah’s return to the team and positive reception from fans suggest the situation has eased for now, Brown believes the winger is not completely satisfied.
He added that Salah’s quality allows him to influence games at any moment, which made his exclusion a bold call by manager Arne Slot. However, Brown insisted that no player should undermine the manager’s authority.
Although the issue appears settled in the short term, Brown expects further tensions before the season ends, which could prompt Salah to consider leaving in the summer rather than January.
Brown also noted that Salah faces a challenge to fully regain the manager’s trust after damaging relationships at the club. While he missed Liverpool’s Champions League trip to Inter Milan, his appearance against Brighton showed a possible route back into contention.
If Salah continues to work hard and prove his value on the pitch, he can remain an important part of the squad despite ongoing uncertainty about his future. Brown compared the situation to Cristiano Ronaldo’s past struggles at Manchester United, where persistence and performances helped him fight his way back into the starting XI.
