Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah is determined to sign a new deal with the club, according to an Egyptian sports minister.
The 29-year-old is yet to reach an agreement over his existing terms which expire in the summer of 2023, despite lengthy rounds of negotiations with the club.
However, a recent report claimed that Salah was close to agreeing a deal which would see him stay at Liverpool until he hangs up his boots, while Jurgen Klopp is also optimistic about the situation.
Now, Egypt sports minister Ashraf Sobhi has claimed that Salah is keen to extend his stay at Anfield, despite the chief's wishes, telling Egyptian radio: "I met with Mohamed Salah at the airport after the end of the Senegal match and the failure to reach the World Cup finals and said to him to forget what happened and focus on what's next.
"I have advised him to continue his journey at a club other than Liverpool, but his direction now is to renew his contract with Liverpool. There are campaigns against Salah directed by some to bring him down, but I asked him not to pay attention to them."
Salah has scored 28 goals and set up 10 more in 37 matches for Liverpool this term and will be out to equal a Champions League record set by Ruud van Nistelrooy against Benfica on Tuesday night.
Ben Knapton
