Football Transfer Window : Mohamed Salah is Liverpool's highest-paid player

Liverpool made Salah, 30, the highest-paid player in the club's history on Friday.

The 30-year-old has been the subject of significant conjecture as his contract at Anfield approaches the end of its 12-month term.

Liverpool is said to be treading similar territory as Arsenal did two years ago when they renewed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's contract at 31 before his influence waned swiftly.

The Liverpool and Mohamed Salah story

While running all of its athletic activities, including the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Sports Group has rarely given out large contracts to athletes who have reached a stage in their careers that would typically be past the physical peak of many.

However, Liverpool has made an exception for Salah in this arrangement, although this is not an exceptional decision.

Liverpool does not feel this is the case with Salah, just as they did not believe it was with James Milner, whom the club signed as their best-paid player when he was about to turn 30 on this date seven years ago.

Milner, of course, is doing just fine after all this time. So when the players return to pre-season training on Monday morning, it would be a surprise if he and Salah aren't at the front of the pack as they hurtle across the track in the otherwise dreaded kilometre interval sprints that follow.

However, when comparing Milner in 2015 to Salah in 2022, there is a £200,000 weekly difference.

Salah's tenure at Liverpool has always been about money, no matter how the club, the player, or his representative Ramy Abbas attempt to spin it now that everyone is happy with the outcome.

When Kevin De Bruyne signed to a two-year contract extension in May of last year to keep him at Manchester City through his 34th birthday, Salah, with counsel from Abbas, reasoned that they should try for something similar.

That's roughly what they got. However, there were concessions on both sides because some of his £350k per week is based on performance and achievement.

Despite concerns that this information will cause problems with teammates and their representatives, who now know there is always wiggle room in any future negotiation.

Klopp is particularly confident that the humility and intelligence in the Anfield dressing room will ensure that it will not be a problem.

The other Liverpool players regard Salah as the team's main guy and recognize how dedicated he is because he takes care of himself - as he has always done - and so acknowledge that he deserves what he is getting.

How does Mohamed Salah fare after Sadio Mane's exit?

While Salah has always expressed a desire to stay if the money was right, Mane has made it evident to Liverpool that he would not sign a new deal to replace the one that was supposed to end in 2023. 

That is why Luis Diaz was acquired as his successor in January.

Mane, being the player and personality he is, was able to reinvent himself in a different position during the closing months of his Liverpool career, when Salah struggled following his in the Africa Cup of Nations. 

And the twin disappointments of Egypt losing the final of that tournament and failing to qualify for the World Cup in March.

Liverpool knew the emotional impact of everything, but they stuck by him. It is believed that summer of rest will be beneficial to him.

It will be interesting to see how Liverpool uses Salah from here on out. For the past five years, he has been the left-footed striker on the right side of a front three, but there are signs that things are changing, considering how Klopp successfully adjusted the structure of his midfield and attack towards the conclusion of last season.

In this evolution, he may require more No. 10 alternatives. Perhaps Salah will be one of the players that can assist him with this.

He's almost always available for Liverpool. His body would undoubtedly be able to handle the rigours of a more central role. Over the last 18 months, he has become more selfless, serving those around him.

Though he is a much more intelligent footballer than the one who left Cairo for Switzerland or joined Liverpool from Roma, Klopp must believe that he is fundamentally the same machine.