Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is confident Mohamed Salah’s contract situation will not distract his players this season.

The 28-year-old’s current deal with the Reds runs until 2023 but his future has been cast into doubt after he refused to rule out the possibility of leaving Anfield to join Real Madrid or Barcelona.

These rumours have coincided with a particularly bad patch of form for Liverpool, which has seen them slip to fourth in the Premier League table, six points behind leaders Manchester United.

Despite all of these growing concerns, Reds boss Klopp has defiantly claimed that Salah’s contract issues will not ‚distract this season‘ and defended his star forward, stating that these rumours are ‚a normal thing in the world of football.‘

“It is a normal thing in the world of football. Mo didn’t make a speech, it’s not that we go out and talk about things that we think are important. It’s pretty rare that happens.

“We get asked questions and we answer – that is the end of the story. But it always sounds like we started the conversation.

“In Mo’s case it is not like that. I don’t think it will distract this season.”

Rumours regarding Salah’s future sparked into life in December, when the Egyptian star refused to dismiss the possibility of joining either of Spain’s two giants, claiming his future was in Liverpool’s hands.

However, the Premier League champions are remaining calm over the situation, as they believe they can come to an agreement over an extended contract with the forward.

Despite Salah refusing to rule out a potential departure, 90min previously revealed that he is neither actively seeking a transfer, nor is he unhappy at Anfield.

Salah did admit he was disappointed not to receive the captain’s armband as leader of a youthful team against FC Midtjylland in the Champions League, leading to suggestions that his relationship with Klopp is not as strong as others within the squad.