Mohamed Salah: Is Liverpool exit the end? Can World Cup spur Egypt star?

Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool exit may not be the greatest footballing surprise, but it does leave many questions about the future of one of the Premier League’s greatest – and undoubtedly Africa’s best.

The Egypt international has risen to the top of club football with the Merseysiders, a sleeping giant before Salah was the star of two Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League crown.
The public fallout with Reds’ manager Arne Slot this season meant the end of his time at Anfield was inevitable – even after a PR patch-up and return from a club-imposed exile following his own criticism of the season and the club’s handling of him.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at what future options and inspirations the 33-year-old has ahead of him, or whether this is the end of the Egyptian king’s reign.

The end of a Premier League era for Salah
A further stint in the English top flight with a move to another Premier League club is surely off the table for any number of reasons, despite Salah’s stats suggesting the Egyptian star would have no problem maintaining his performance levels in the number one league in the world.

Sentimentality and loyalty will be at the forefront of Salah’s thinking. His farewell message on social media to the Liverpool fans, on announcing on Tuesday his departure at the end of the season, confirms the fact that it would be very difficult to line up for a domestic rival.

Only a very limited number of Premier League teams would be able to afford Salah, mainly the clubs regularly in and around the UEFA Champions League qualifying spots. Almost instantly ruled out are Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United – the latter for even more obvious reasons, as Liverpool’s greatest adversaries, than just jostling for positions.