Liverpool will fight to hang onto the £70 million star – Saudi Pro League Liverpool will fight to hang onto the £70 million star – Saudi Pro League
Liverpool will fight to hang onto the £70 million star – Saudi Pro League

September 6, 2024

Liverpool will fight to hang onto the £70 million star – Saudi Pro League

Given that Saudi dealmakers want to add Mohamed Salah to Al-Hilal’s team in time for him to play in the redesigned Club World Cup in the United States, Liverpool may struggle to keep Salah at Anfield come next season, according to GIVEMESPORT sources.

Under new manager Arne Slot, who strengthened his attacking options with the £12.5 million signing of Federico Chiesa from Serie A powerhouse Juventus last week, the Reds have made an encouraging start to the season. Heading into the international break, they have a 100% winning record.

The goalkeeper has remained on loan with Valencia as part of the deal worth up to £29 million. Still, Liverpool is preparing for a difficult task: trying to persuade Salah to sign a new contract. The only other senior recruit during the summer transfer window was Georgia international Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Dealmakers in Saudi Arabia Plan a New Step for Salah

Al-Hilal is anticipated to be Egypt’s new international option.

Credits to SPL Image Gallery

According to GMS sources, Saudi dealmakers have set their sights on trying again to entice Salah away from Liverpool after Al-Ittihad could not include him in their squad a year ago.

Al-Hilal is anticipated to be the new club, and they hope to complete the deal by the end of the campaign.

The Egypt international is nearing the end of his contract, which would enable him to earn £400,000 a week when Merseyside bonuses kick in. As a result, potential suitors are keen to seize this chance to make their move to the Middle East, hoping to make him the next big Premier League player to leave the country.

According to GMS sources, Saudi dealmakers want Salah to be a marquee signing for Al-Hilal so he can play at the Club World Cup in June. However, in order to accomplish that, Liverpool would have to let Salah go as a free agent a few weeks before his contract expires.

The division needs to sign the prolific wide forward by 2025, as his arrival would align with the new cycle of television rights. His native Egypt is a significant target market. The Saudi Pro League sporting director, Michael Emenalo, is spearheading the push for the player.

Al-Ittihad’s hopes of getting Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon to compete at the Saudi-hosted Club World Cup were dashed when he politely declined an offer of up to £150 million in the summer of 2023, according to GMS sources.

Reds are eager to sign Salah to a new deal

Giants from Merseyside are set to begin talks with forward

Credits to SPL Image Gallery

According to GMS sources, Liverpool is calm about the situation despite choosing not to initiate discussions because they always intended to avoid internal talks while the summer transfer window was still open. Salah is expected to be offered a new contract to keep him at Anfield.

The 32-year-old told Sky Sports that no decisions had been made regarding his future following the Reds’ convincing 3-0 victory over Manchester United last weekend.

“I had a good summer and had a long time to myself to try to stay positive because, as you know, it’s my last year at the club.

“I just want to enjoy it and I don’t want to think about it. I feel like I’m free to play football, and then we’ll see what happens next year.

“Nobody at the club has spoken to me yet about a new contract, so I just play this last season and then see at the end of the season.”

Since the new terms will have protected Salah’s value, Liverpool would prefer that he extend his contract, either to stay on Merseyside for another season or with the intention of selling for a high price. However, GMS sources understand that a Saudi Arabian bid is not anticipated to come close to what Al-Ittihad put on the table a year ago.

Before the summer transfer window reopened, the former Chelsea player informed his current employers that he would not cash in on the riches on offer, even though a proposal from the Middle East would surpass a £70 million package. This was in contrast to his former teammates Roberto Firmino and Fabinho.

GMS sources are aware that Salah would be offered the chance to secure a far superior signing-on fee at Al-Hilal and would find himself on a similar pay package to Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo to become one of the highest-paid players in the division if he does not agree to a contract extension, which is the Saudi dealmakers’ preferred course of action.

The former Roma talisman was recently ranked second by GMS in a list of the Premier League’s top players whose contracts expire in 2025. Liverpool is getting ready to start negotiations to persuade the player to stay in his current environment rather than take on a new challenge in the Middle East.

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author
Katarzyna Nowak

Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and football sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Football News Today, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for football, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.