Mohamed Salah: New Liverpool deal likely to happen - Michael Owen

Mohamed Salah's options would be going «sideways to Manchester City or down anywhere else» if he left Liverpool, says ex-Reds striker Michael Owen.

The 29-year-old Egypt forward's deal runs out in summer 2023.

He has previously saidexternal-link he wanted to stay but his future is in Liverpool's hands while Reds manager Jurgen Klopp has said «it's Mo's decision».

«I'd be very surprised if Mo Salah didn't sign with Liverpool. What are the options at the moment?» Owen said.

«You are only going either sideways to Manchester City or down anywhere else because there is no-one else as good as these two teams in the world at the moment.

»Let's give everyone time because these things don't happen overnight.

«You are talking about one of the biggest clubs in the world and one of the biggest players in the world and that player is about to sign the biggest contract of his life.

»I think it's entirely normal that negotiations can drag on a little bit," Owen told BBC Sport.

Salah joined Liverpool from Italian club Roma in summer 2017 and has scored 153 goals in 239 appearances.

He has helped the club win the Premier League, Champions League, League Cup, Fifa Club World Cup and Uefa Super Cup during his time at Anfield.

Owen, who scored 40 goals for England, started his career at Liverpool before spells at Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Stoke City.

Speaking at the launch of IPL Soccer — a new tournament to help British Asians showcase their talents — he believes Liverpool should not break their wage structure to keep Salah.

«You can't give players what they want. The whole game would be a disaster if that was the case,» he said.

«Liverpool have got to run it as a business. They can't, of course, give any player what they