Liverpool switch information: Mo Salah’s Reds future mapped with subsequent vacation spot ‘doubtless’ to be Saudi Arabia
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is still yet to agree to terms on a new deal with the Reds, which could see him move to the Saudi Pro League on a free in the summer
Mohamed Salah‘s future at Liverpool is unclear and if the ‘Egyptian King’ does depart Anfield this summer, his next destination looks likely to be Saudi Arabia.
Despite Arne Slot unexpectedly filling Jurgen Klopp’s boots with apparent ease and the Reds sat atop both the Premier League and Champions League tables, the expiration of three first-team stars’ contracts painfully lingers.
Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold have not agreed on new deals and will all leave the club in the summer as it stands. While the Dutch defender seems likely to remain on Merseyside, and Alexander-Arnold’s choice looks to be between hometown glory and Real Madrid, for Salah, the Saudi Pro League has always been viewed as the next logical step.
The Middle East would promise Salah a contract that simply couldn’t be matched by his current employers. Saudi chiefs made their intentions clear during the summer of 2023 – and their desire to draw him away from the Premier League remains as strong as ever.
Reigning champions Al-Hilal have recently emerged as the top candidate to secure his signature should he make the switch – and a recent transfer revelation may ramp up such efforts.
The team’s current star player is Neymar. However, after a lengthy absence through injury and considering a clear desire to depart, negotiations between the 32-year-old and Eastern Conference MLS outfit Chicago Fire have reportedly begun.
Furthermore, as manager Jorge Jesus confirmed, Neymar has not been registered for league action by Al-Hilal. This means that he would only be available for Asian Champions League matches should he stay in Saudi Arabia.
With it looking likely that the 19-time league winners will lose their marquee player, Salah would be the perfect replacement and could become the face of the expanded Club World Cup they’ll participate in come June and July.
To all but confirm Al-Hilal’s interest, one of Saudi Arabian sport’s most influential figures, Turki Alalshikh, posted a mocked-up picture of Salah in the club’s shirt to Facebook earlier this month. Alalshikh is the chair of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. However, a different Saudi Pro League club sought to secure Salah’s services two years ago.
The summer window transfer deadline in 2023 saw a mammoth offer arrive for the Egyptian from Al-Ittihad, who tabled a reported £150million figure.
Salah had only just signed a three-year extension the year prior and remained Liverpool’s brightest star. Thus, the mouthwatering bid – and the 32-year-old’s supposedly put forth £1.5m-a-week contract – was swiftly turned down.
Klopp, then boss of the Reds, stated at the time that the club’s “position remains the same”, insisting: “No doubt about that. We cannot [sell Salah]. That’s how it is.” But Al-Ittihad continued to plot, with reports suggesting an effort in the £200m region was prepared but never submitted.
Salah has been rather outspoken about his contract saga, repeating the idea that he is “more out than in” and that this would be his “last year at the club.” He also previously clarified his opinion on heading to the Middle East.
In 2016, speaking to Sport360 while plying his trade for Roma, Salah admitted: “I don’t know what the future holds, but I would definitely agree to a professional career in Saudi Arabia.
While this opinion was held nearly a decade ago, it still speaks volumes about how highly Salah may regard such a move – one that current Saudi Pro League sporting director Michael Emenalo hopes can be completed.
“I think it depends on Mo,” Emenalo told the Obi One Podcast in October last year. “The stories that our teams went after him was true, it is true, there was an interest. It’s okay for me to have an interest in signing Mo, but the club have to have an interest in letting him go, and if those things don’t align, you don’t have a deal.”
Emenalo then cited that Salah’s desire to leave Anfield in 2023 wasn’t strong because he felt he had “unfinished business”. Should he claim prizes for his goalscoring this campaign, and lead the Reds to a piece of silverware or two, perhaps such business would be considered done.
