Arne Slot has sought to draw a clear line under the episode involving Mohamed Salah, saying Liverpool have “moved on” while the forward represents his country at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Salah was initially handed a punishment of one further game out of the matchday squad before restorative talks between Salah and Slot led to the player returning to the squad and appearing off the bench in a 2–0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion. He has since departed for the AFCON, with his representatives expected to hold further talks with Liverpool during his absence to reach a final verdict on his future.

“I said last week, actions speak louder than words,” Slot explained ahead of his side’s meeting with Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. “We moved on, he was in the squad [against Brighton] and he was the first substitution I made.

“Now he is at the AFCON, playing big games for himself and also for the country, so I think it is fair to them, but definitely also to us because we’re going to play some very important games, that all the focus for him is over there for him and there should be no distractions from me saying anything about his time here at Liverpool .

“We’ve moved on after the Leeds interview and he played against Brighton. He is there, so it is fair for that country and for him and also for us to talk about Tottenham, and other games, and for them to be fully focused on their tournament.”

Despite Slot’s attempt to move the story on, Salah’s future remains unresolved. Reports suggest the forward’s unhappiness extends beyond that benching to frustration with the club’s summer transfer business, which has required tactical adjustments to accommodate struggling team-mates such as Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.

Slot acknowledged defensive issues and the wider process of evolution within his squad. “That is a question only the future can answer,” he said when asked if his changes to the team have been exploited by rival clubs. He added that Liverpool conceded more chances against Brighton than in the four unbeaten games prior and defended the summer alterations as necessary.

“We are getting closer and closer to the team I want us to be, and it has come with ups and downs, let’s be completely clear about that. For me, that makes sense because [of] all the changes we made during the summer—we made them on purpose, because we felt we needed to.

“If I am completely honest, maybe I didn’t expect it to take as long as it did but, looking back and reflecting on it now, I think I’ve been too positive. If you go with a new group where not all of them are completely ready to play every single game, 90 minutes in this intensity, you have to adapt and it takes maybe a bit of time.”

Mohamed Salah’s recent spell on the sidelines has revealed a problem at Liverpool that goes beyond a single selection dispute. After three matches on the bench and an outspoken moment with reporters, Salah was omitted from the travelling squad for the Champions League trip to Italy. He later returned to the bench for the Premier League win over Brighton & Hove Albion, came on and provided an assist, and has since departed for the Africa Cup of Nations without a clear resolution.

A Daily Mail Q&A with reporters close to the club suggested the issue is not solely about minutes. The claim is that Salah was not “overly convinced” by Liverpool’s summer business and by the idea that Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, bought in record-breaking deals for a combined £241 million ($323.2 million), were the players to lead the attack going forward.

Those observers note a personal element. Salah was known to be close with Darwin Núñez and Luís Diaz and was upset when a Liverpool fan account on social media “disrespected” the departed pair after the transfer window. There have also been repeated suggestions that he has been dismissive towards Wirtz, with one widely cited example being Salah’s reluctance to pass to the German for a simple finish during a Champions League win over Eintracht Frankfurt in October. Wirtz is still searching for his first goal as the weight of his price tag remains a talking point.

The prevailing theory is that Salah stopping to speak to reporters after the Leeds game was not entirely spontaneous; sources say tensions had been building over weeks and months. Time away at AFCON could soothe relations, or it could allow grievances to fester if not addressed directly.

Liverpool, for their part, are reported to intend to keep Salah through the January window and until his contract ends in 2027. If the 33-year-old does not believe he can continue at the club, he has not publicly said so. There are likely suitors from Saudi Arabia and Major League Soccer, and, according to reports, the ball currently rests with Salah and how the club chooses to respond.

The battle for Marc Guéhi’s signature next summer is evolving into a three-way contest, with Liverpool, Manchester City and Bayern Munich all in the frame as the England international approaches a free transfer. Insiders say one variable stands above the rest: Dayot Upamecano’s contract situation at Bayern.

Bayern have held two meetings with Guéhi’s representatives, per Fabrizio Romano, and the club’s appetite will reportedly hinge on whether a central defender vacancy appears. The story, in short, is straightforward. If Upamecano extends his stay the prospect of a Bayern approach diminishes; should a centre back slot open up, Guéhi would be elevated to the status of “serious target”.

Upamecano himself is moving toward the end of his deal but has not ruled out a new contract. The 27-year-old’s salary demands are said to be a sticking point while all options remain open.

Guéhi has tried to insulate himself from the noise. According to reports he has remained detached from speculation, “insisting it wasn’t a difficult Deadline Day” as he continues to captain Crystal Palace and develop a growing influence at club level.

Bayern’s recruitment pattern underlines why the club is monitored closely in this market. The Bundesliga champions have integrated Premier League players into their frontline, with Michael Olise occupying the right side of an attack led by Harry Kane and Luis Díaz.

Romano also assesses the wider market and deems Serie A’s chances of signing Guéhi as “impossible” given the finances required. That assessment is underscored by the summer window figures: the Turkish top flight recorded a larger net spend than Serie A during the 2025 summer window.

For Liverpool and Manchester City, the situation is more binary: Bayern’s decision on Upamecano could either clear the path for a formal bid or consolidate the domestic contenders’ chances. Until that decision is reached, Guéhi’s next destination remains a closely watched negotiation determined as much by one player’s future as by the centre back market as a whole.