Simon Jordan has dubbed Mohamed Salah a ‘fair weather player’ amid speculation that Liverpool’s star forward could be preparing to leave Anfield amid continued interest from Saudi Pro League sides.

The Egyptian winger has been one of the club’s talismans since his arrival on Merseyside in 2017, but is set to enter the final year of his contract ahead of next season.

Salah has struggled for form at the sharp end of Liverpool’s title run-in and was dropped to the bench ahead of the club’s must-win clash against West Ham on Saturday afternoon.

The 31-year-old was later embroiled in a touchline spat with outgoing manager Jurgen Klopp when preparing to be brought on as a substitute, fanning the flames further when he said that ‘there would be fire’ if he was asked to comment on the incident after the final whistle.

While the club is reportedly adamant that the forward is set to stay past this summer, Mail Sport’s Ian Ladyman suggested that Salah looked like a player who might be regretting his decision to remain at the club for this campaign on the It’s All Kicking Off podcast.

Jordan’s comments on talkSPORT – which he suggested would likely attract the ire of Liverpool supporters and fans of Salah alike – stressed that even if the club did keep hold of their player, it would likely be on a short-term basis.

‘You question whether you would have had this (speculation over Salah’s future) if Klopp was going to be there in perpetuity,’ Jordan began.

‘I know this is controversial and people are going to tell me what a clown I am and I should ride around in a clown car, but I’m not a fan of Mo Salah.

‘I don’t think he’s as good as people make him out to be. I think he dives, I think he can be a fair weather player.

‘I know this will sound ridiculous to people and will make me incredibly unpopular by saying it, obviously he’s scored lots of goals, but when the going gets tough some people stand up and fight and some people don’t.

‘I get this feeling that Salah can be one of those. It’s an opinion.

‘Unless Liverpool are going to get him to sign a new contract, which has to be a prerequisite of him staying, then they are potentially handing over a lot of money,’ he added.

‘People don’t run their club that way. If you look at the way Liverpool have spent in the last half a decade, they have spent €500million. Manchester City and Arsenal have spent nearly €800million.

‘Liverpool tend to do it on the basis of how much they can get in. I don’t see a situation where Salah walks out the door in a year’s time. I don’t see Salah signing a new long-term contract either.’

Mail Sport reported in December that the Saudi Pro League would renew their interest in the player in June 2024 after Al-Ittihad tabled a staggering late bid for the player during last summer’s window worth £200million.

Salah is thought to be viewed as an even-more important potential signing than that of Cristiano Ronaldo in January 2023, which launched a new wave of eye-watering Saudi spending.

‘There’s a huge opportunity for him to be the first Muslim of superstar status to play in that league,’ Jordan added, commenting on a speculative move to the Kingdom.

I know there’s a relationship between the Saudis and the Egyptians, which doesn’t make Egyptians the highest on the food chain ethnically.

‘If you want to sell him, you’re hardly going to say he’s up for sale in the last year of his contract.’

Salah has been a driving force as Liverpool have chased an unlikely quadruple and is the club’s top scorer this season with 24 goals in 41 matches, including 17 in the Premier League.

Liverpool lifted the Carabao Cup in Klopp’s final season, but their hopes in the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League were dashed by a dip in form in recent weeks.

Salah’s future will be one of the major decisions facing Arne Slot, with the Feyenoord boss expected to appointed as Liverpool’s new manager.