- Liverpool chief Hughes has been accused of failing to sign Salah’s new contract
- Salah has claimed he is ‘more out than in’ as his contract expires next summer
- Liverpool correspondent LEWIS STEELE tells all in bombshell chat with Mo Salah – LISTEN NOW It all starts! New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Liverpool transfer chief Richard Hughes has been called a ‘robot’ who ‘has no empathy’ by the agent of a Reds coach.
It comes after star player Mohamed Salah revealed his disappointment with the club over the lack of progress in offering a new contract. The Egyptian spoke in an impressive interview in which he also said he was ‘more out than in’ at Anfield before his deal expires in the summer.
And now Rob Jansen, representing one of Arne Slot’s assistants Johnny Heitinga, has called out sporting director Hughes and said he is responsible for dragging out the Salah saga.
“One thing Richard Hughes doesn’t have is any sense of empathy,” said Jansen, who negotiated the contract for Heitinga to join Liverpool, a story revealed by Mail Sport.
‘Zero. He’s a robot. I know that because I negotiated with him about Heitinga.
‘There are no feelings in him. That could well be the reason. Especially with a player like Salah, who has emotion, has a different culture and is sensitive to warmth.’
Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes (right) has been labeled a ‘robot’ by the agent of Arne Slot’s assistant Johnny Heitinga
Heitinga’s agent Rob Jansen (pictured) claims Hughes ‘has zero feelings in him’
Jansen’s revelation comes after Mo Salah said he is ‘more out than in’ at Liverpool and his contract expires at the end of the season
Jansen was speaking to the podcast KieftJansenEgmondGijp and fellow presenter Rene van der Gijp, once a winger at PSV Eindhoven, added: ‘You would think if you were at that club, you would text Salah three times a day and him a lot of blooms twice a day.’
Salah spoke openly about his future after scoring a goal in Liverpool’s 3-2 win over Southampton on Sunday, taking his season tally to 12 goals in all competitions.
He told a small group of reporters outside St Mary’s: ‘We’re almost into December and I haven’t received any offers to stay at the club yet. I’m probably outside more than inside.
‘You know I’ve been at the club for years. There is no club like this. But ultimately it’s out of my hands. Like I said, it’s December and I haven’t received anything about my future yet.
‘I love the fans. The fans love me. Ultimately it is not in my hands, nor in the hands of the fans.’
Asked if he was disappointed with the lack of progress, Salah replied: “Of course, yes. I’m not retiring anytime soon so I’m just playing, focusing on the season and trying to win the Premier League and hopefully the Champions League too. I’m disappointed, but we’ll see.
Salah’s comments have divided opinion, with some fans claiming it could be ‘completely unforgivable’ if Liverpool’s owners let him leave for free at the end of the season.
However, club icon Jamie Carragher branded Salah ‘selfish’ for criticizing the timing of the outburst.
I have to say I’m very disappointed in Mo Salah,” Carragher told Monday Night Football. ‘That interview last night… Liverpool have Real Madrid during the week and Manchester City next weekend. That’s the story for Liverpool at the moment.
“And Mo Salah, we are aware – especially the local reporters at the club – that he has been put in the mixed zone twice in seven years. That’s absolutely fine.
Jansen is Johnny Heitinga’s agent (pictured) and has criticized Hughes’ lack of empathy
Virgil van Dijk (right) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (left) are also out of contract next summer and have yet to sign new contracts
‘But he retires for the third time at Southampton because he won Liverpool the game and put it out.
“If he continues to comment or his agent continues to spread cryptic tweets, that is selfish. That is thinking about oneself and not about the football club.’
Salah is one of three Liverpool stars out of contract at the end of the season, alongside captain Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Van Dijk has hinted that he is planning to sign a new contract but has not yet put pen to paper, while Alexander-Arnold has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid, joining an international teammate and good friend. Judas Bellingham.