Peter Crouch believes that agreeing to sell star Mohamed Salah to Saudi Arabia at the end of the season would work for Liverpool and the player as he enters the final year of his contract

Peter Crouch believes Liverpool would be wise to cash-in on Mohamed Salah next summer if a Saudi Arabian club returns with a mammoth offer.

A £150m bid from Al-Ittihad was rejected before the summer transfer window closed with the Reds insisting the Egypt star would not be sold for any price. But Crouch thinks Liverpool ’s stance could change when Salah, 31, enters the final year of his contract.

And the former striker says it would be impossible to begrudge Salah if he pushes for a move at the end of this campaign – even if there were no obvious signs that he was angling for a switch in recent weeks.

“It didn’t look like he was upset or downing tools but there’s an element of him that would have been maybe up for a conversation,” Crouch said. “But he looks more than happy where he is. You can’t sit here and begrudge him if he wanted to move.

“He’s won absolutely everything and scored more goals than anyone in the Premier League for Liverpool. It’s absolutely incredible what he has achieved and continues to achieve. Obviously with my Liverpool hat on I want him to stay for as long as possible because he shows no sign of letting up whatsoever.

“But even the most staunch Liverpool supporter would understand. It’s not going to go away. The Saudis have proven if they want someone they will invariably get them and with Salah I think it will rumble on this season.

“He will be totally dedicated to them this season but it might work for both parties really if they get a big fee for him and for him there’s the obvious financial gains of playing in Saudi Arabia.”

But Crouch thinks there is little incentive beyond the financial for players to make the move to the SPL – despite Jordan Henderson ’s claim that salary was not a primary motivation when he left Anfield for Al-Ettifaq. As a result the former England striker believes only older players in search of a final bumper contract should consider the switch.

“If you’re a 31 or 32-year-old who has won everything I don’t think you can really begrudge,” he added. “But you can’t not dress it up as one last pay day. I can’t sit here and say we don’t all know the reason why people are going there. That’s what it is, that’s not going to change.

“The league will become competitive I’m sure but, let’s be honest, it’s miles behind where you want to be as a young player. If I’m 21 or 22 years of age and I’ve got the chance to go to Real Madrid, Barcelona or Liverpool over the Saudi league, of course you’ll choose the European leagues. Unless you’re financially motivated.”