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Clubs from the Saudi Pro League are reportedly optimistic about securing Mohamed Salah's signature, should he express a desire to leave Liverpool. It's believed that these clubs anticipate a big transfer fee for the Egyptian international.
The Daily Mail suggests that Salah, who has 18 months remaining on his contract worth over £400k per week, may not be entirely against such a move. Over recent years, he has reportedly never dismissed the idea of moving to Saudi Arabia. However, Liverpool has no plans to part ways with Salah, who is set to depart for AFCON with Egypt shortly.
Liverpool is not seeking a sale in January, despite Saudi clubs' hefty £100 million ($134M) valuation of the 33-year-old. A similar figure was speculated for Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes in the summer, but he stayed put at Old Trafford.
Saudi news outlet Al Riyadiah reported that Al-Ittihad approached Salah back in the summer of 2023, offering Liverpool £52 million ($70M) and proposing a two-year contract worth £155m ($207M) to the player. The Reds subsequently turned down a £100m ($134M) bid, which was said to potentially rise to £150m ($200M), from the same club on transfer deadline day a month later.
If Liverpool does eventually show any signs that a deal could be possible, Al Hilal, Al Qadisah and Neom are all reportedly interested – although no such indication has been given so far.
Saudi clubs are holding back on making any approach until they can be certain that relations have been fully repaired. One source characterised the Saudi transfer situation as 'difficult', though there remains optimism that a deal could materialise if Salah demonstrates a willingness to move.
Salah is expected to feature in the Liverpool squad when they host Brighton and Hove Albion at Anfield this weekend. His return follows constructive discussions with head coach Arne Slot.
He was omitted from the midweek Champions League fixture against Inter at San Siro. That call was fully supported by Slot after Salah suggested he had been "thrown under the bus" following his omission from the starting XI for Liverpool's previous three Premier League fixtures.
Slot addressed the Salah situation at length during his pre-match press conference on Friday. He said: "I will have a conversation with him this morning, and the outcome of that conversation will determine how it looks tomorrow. What I need is a conversation with him, and the next time I speak about Mo should be with him and not in here.
"There's not much more I can say. I will speak to him (Salah) today, and the outcome determines how things will look tomorrow.
"You can try (the question) in multiple ways, but I just said the next time I speak about him should be with him. There's been a lot of conversation since last week between his representatives and ours.
"An apology? Normally, I'd say you've had your three questions!" Slot commented: "Who made the call (to leave Salah out of the squad for Inter)? We decided, as a club, and I was part of that decision, not to take him to Inter.
"I am always in contact with them, with lineups and squads; that is always left to me. I talk to Richard Hughes more than Michael Edwards; we speak about many things.
"Do I want him to stay? Another way of asking, but the next time I speak about Mo will be with him. I have no reason not to want him to stay."
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