Peter Crouch and Steve McManaman have both agreed that Liverpool should not be backed into a corner over Mohamed Salah's ongoing contract negotiations.
Jurgen Klopp addressed the future of the Reds' star man during his press conference yesterday afternoon, insisting that the decision over a new deal remains down to Salah and his representatives.
The agent of the Egyptian caused fury on social media shortly after Klopp's comments were made, posting laughing emojis on his Twitter account seemingly in response to his stance on the matter.
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Liverpool would need to make Salah their highest-paid player in the club's history if he is to stay beyond next summer, or will risk losing him for free if he decides to run down his contract.
Weighing in on the debate over how the Reds should approach this sensitive subject, former Liverpool midfielder McManaman told BT Sport: "We all want him to stay.
"Every Liverpool fan wants him to. But there has to be a point where Liverpool say 'We can pay this amount and that is our maximum'.
"I don't think Liverpool are going to change their structure, I really don't. You cannot compare his situation to Mbappe. You can't suddenly say 'I want the same price tag and wages as Mbappe'. It's not going to work.
"Virgil wants it, Alisson wants it, Henderson wants it. There has to come a point where Liverpool make a decision or Mo makes a decision."
Adopting a similar tone, Crouch admitted Salah has earned the right to have high wage demands but believes the team will cope if he heads for the exit doors.
"Salah can go in there and say 'I want to be the highest-paid player in the world'. What he has done in the last few seasons, he has the ability and power to go in there and say that," he said.
"The problem is Van Dijk is almost as important, Alisson. Where does it end? it then becomes a problem. We all want to keep Mo Salah and give him what he wants, but he has to fall in line with what they are prepared to pay.
"Of course you make him the highest-paid player, but not way beyond the structure you've got. Liverpool, as a club, will always be bigger than any individual.
"There are times where Liverpool have sold players and you thought it was unthinkable they would do that, but they have always recovered."
Rio Ferdinand was the last to share his view on Salah and added: "What does he want? Does he want to be an absolute idol and icon at Liverpool forever, or is it about money? I think we will find out at the end of this."
