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Mohammed Salah is once again transfer news, and while Fiorentina fans felt that they could comfortably count on his services for next season, seeing Salah in purple again next season isn't the lock that we may have thought. The 23 year old winger - who set Serie A alight with his dazzling pace and eye for goal upon his arrival in January - finished off his international duty for Egypt with a characteristically sparkling performance yesterday, but is unfortunately still yet to commit himself to playing for Fiorentina next season.
Salah is owned by Chelsea, who Fiorentina will face in the International Champions Cup this summer in London, but was sent on an 18-month loan to the Viola as a makeweight in the deal for Juan Cuadrado. After impressing in Florence, the club is eager to keep the talented attacker, but still requires the player to sign on for another year in Tuscany.
Tottenham Hotspur have been interested in Salah since before he signed for Chelsea, and are now exploring an agreement with the player as our friends at Cartilage Free Captain are reporting. It would be a slightly unlikely move, as Chelsea and Jose Mourinho would be allowing a city rival land a potentially dangerous talent, but Spurs would have the financial clout to buy Salah from Chelsea directly and pay the Egyptian a very comfortable wage.
The more unlikely rumor that has been touted today is the interest of Inter Milan, who are supposedly financially able to strengthen once Mateo Kovacic or Samir Handanovic (or both) is sold. The (Milan based and not at all biased ever) Gazzetta dello Sport says that Salah is "oriented towards leaving Florence" and that Inter are considering a move for the player if their similarly difficult to imagine attempt to land Juan Cuadrado on loan were to fall through.
The paper goes on to say Inter would also be interested in working out a loan deal to defray the cost of Salah in full, although it's unclear why Chelsea would opt for another loan when their player is successfully loaned at a club where he is nearly guaranteed of playing time. It seems to me similarly unlikely that Salah would trade a slight bump in wages to play (less, in all probability) for a club outside of Europe but still in Italy.
Regardless, until "Momo" Salah's intentions become clear, nothing more can be said definitively, as Salah can end this whole discussion by confirming his loan in Florence for another year. While this is still the most likely scenario, it certainly cannot help that Fiorentina are still dawdling on appointing a coach after the firing of Vincenzo Montella, extending a transitionary period in a way that is unwelcome for players looking guaranteed quality football. Salah and Fiorentina have had a spectacular couple months together, let's hope the good vibes can continue through the summer.