Not selling Mohamed Salah to Saudi Arabia this summer will cost Liverpool £150m - but titles still mean more than money

There's certainly no doubt about that: the money on offer in the Middle East is so colossal that Jordan Henderson deemed it worth ruining his reputation as one of the game's few remaining good guys.

One should also remember that Liverpool took the risky decision to sell both Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi Arabian sides this summer - even though it meant scrambling around for two replacements before the close of the transfer window - because they felt that the bids they received for two ageing midfielders were just too good to turn down. And, in fairness, they were probably right in that regard: the Henderson and Fabinho sales covered the cost of bringing in Waturu Endo and, even more significantly, Ryan Gravenberch.

Selling Salah would generate four times as much revenue, which is why some believe Liverpool would be mad to reject such an insane offer. After all, he has just turned 31 - his best years are arguably behind him. Most players, particularly wide players that rely on speed and skill, begin to decline at his age.

But Salah is not most players. He is no Eden Hazard. He is the consummate professional. He looks after his body better than many of his peers, and we've all seen his impressive abs because he's never been shy about ripping off his shirt to celebrate a goal.

However, it's not just about the ripped physique; there's also Salah's truly remarkable stamina and durability. The man is hardly ever injured, which is just remarkable in this hyper-intense era of football.

The game has never been quicker, the schedule never so demanding, and yet Salah has never played fewer than 48 matches in a single season for Liverpool, and never been sidelined for more than three games in a row - which is testament to his diet, healthy lifestyle, and strength and conditioning training.

There is, therefore, absolutely no reason to believe that Salah cannot continue playing at the highest level for at least another three years, so if Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is willing to invest €90m (£77m/$97m) in Neymar, the footballing equivalent of 'Mr. Glass', one could easily argue that the seemingly indestructible Salah would still be worth at least three times that figure next summer.

Indeed, the one reason why pundits believe Liverpool should take the reported £215m ($268m) is that there won't be as much on the table at the end of the season - but Salah will remain just as valuable to the PIF project. As Fowler pointed out, "There's no doubt that he's by far the most famous footballer in this part of the world and they want him to be the face of the Saudi Pro League."

In that context, Liverpool would still be in a position to demand an outrageous sum of money for an outstanding talent that will still have another year left on his contract in the summer of 2024.

Furthermore, what use is the record-breaking fee to Liverpool right now, given they wouldn't be able to sign a worthy replacement (if such a things exists) for arguably the best and most prolific right winger currently operating in Europe's 'Big Five' leagues?

One could try to argue that Liverpool would still have sufficient quality in attack to cope without Salah - and there is a degree of truth in that, given the Reds have a strength in depth up front that is the envy of the world.

However, while Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez all have their attributes, their Egyptian team-mate remains the team's most dangerous attacking threat by some distance. Even during alleged dips in form, he still posts staggering numbers.

For example, Salah didn't pick up any notable individual awards last season, nor was he named in any teams of the year, and yet only Erling Haaland (61) and Kylian Mbappe (50) were involved in more goals in all competitions than Salah (46).

Whether some want to admit it or not, there is no more rounded or more consistent forward in the Premier League - and there hasn't been for some time. After Saturday's win over Aston Villa, he's now scored or assisted in his last 10 outings in England's top flight - the last player to do that? Mo Salah, in 2021. Yet his quality is inexplicably questioned by some, his greatness is taken for granted. Not at Liverpool, though, and certainly not by Klopp.

"We all know that after his career he will be seen as one of the all-time greats," the German said last season. "Now he is still in his career and some people might not appreciate him enough, but we do."

Liverpool know Salah's true worth, then. This is not a state-sponsored club we're talking about here; there is a limit to what they can spend on the squad - and yet Fenway Sports Group (FSG) were willing to make Salah the highest-paid player in the club's history just over a year ago.

Klopp said at the time that the attacker's "best years" were still ahead of him - he firmly believes that, and with good cause. There is certainly no clear sign of Salah slowing down, having hit at least 30 goals in each of his past three seasons.

Selling Salah now, then, doesn't even make financial sense given his continued importance to the club's hopes of sporting success, as his immediate exit would jeopardise the team's hopes of securing a return to the Champions League, which is more important than ever with the competition said to switch to the even more lucrative 'Swiss Model' in 2024-25.

But this is about more than money - or at least it should be. Salah's openness to leaving Liverpool is understandable. He has achieved more than he could have ever imagined at Anfield, becoming the club's fifth-highest scorer in history and won every possible honour. He is a true Liverpool legend. As Neil Jones once wrote, if the club had a Mount Rushmore, Salah would be on it alongside Steven Gerrard, Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish.

So, while he is just as entitled as the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to accept a ridiculously well-paid semi-retirement plan in Saudi Arabia, Salah clearly doesn't want to tarnish that kind of remarkable legacy in any way, shape or form by pushing for a transfer, which has put the ball firmly in Liverpool's court.

There will be an understandable temptation to take the money, which could be put towards signing at least three top-class players - or maybe one Paris-based superstar... However, selling Salah now risks ruining what has been an encouraging start to the current campaign.

Manchester City remain a cut above every other side in Europe for financial reasons - but, as 10 points from four tricky fixtures has confirmed, a Premier League title challenge is not beyond this flawed but exciting Liverpool side, particularly as Klopp can afford to rest his key players in the Europa League this season. The Reds undoubtedly have a tantalising shot at glory that simply should not be undermined by cashing in on their best player.

Liverpool may have won the title in 2020 in sensational, record-breaking fashion, but they were denied the chance to lit the trophy in front of their fans by the effects of the pandemic. So, what better way would there be for Salah to bring the curtain down on a most remarkable spell at Anfield than by firing Liverpool to a second title? It's the happy ending that this six-year love affair deserves.

Admittedly, the club could well lose out on additional £100m in transfer revenue by keeping Salah for another season, but the prospect of a title challenge is priceless. And besides, the PIF isn't going anywhere anytime soon. The Saudis will, as Fowler warned, get what they want in the end. But not right now, and not like this.

No matter how much more money that Saudi Arabian delegation puts on the table on deadline day, Liverpool's stance should remain the same, and the response short and sweet: Salah stays.