Few days to the closure of the 2023 transfer window in Europe, Mohamed Salah is stealing the spotlight with Al Ittihad pressing the button for another big transfer stunt from Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi Pro League champions are eyeing a sensational move for Mohamed Salah in what could turn out to be the most shocking transfer exit to Saudi Arabia if it happens.
2023 European transfer window closes on 31 August 2023, but the Saudi transfer window will be slammed shut 20 days later on 20 September, 2023. Hence, Liverpool have to watch their back to avoid a last-minute swoop that may snap their key man from the club.
Mohamed Salah signed a new three-year contract with Liverpool in 2022 worth £358,000 weekly. He has two years remaining in that contract but it is not a strong buffer to deter Saudi interests.
Recent groundbreaking deals, landing elite players from European leagues in Saudi Arabia, have dealt final blow to doubts that a top player could be out of the reach of Saudi transfer tentacles oiled by their huge capital outlay.
Cristiano Ronaldo cleared the route in 2022, making a shock transfer swoop from Manchester United to Al Nassr. In less than a year, Saudi Arabia has become an attractive destination to top European players.
Who would have imagined Jordan Henderson, Riyad Mahrez, Aymeric Laporte, Roberto Firmino, Marcelo Brozovic, N’Golo Kante, Karim Benzema, Neymar, Edouard Mendy, Ruben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly, Alex Telles, Fabinho, and other big-name players would have chosen to pit tent with Saudi clubs?
With the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Neymar, and N’Golo Kante, it is beyond all doubt any top player in Europe is beyond Saudi ambitious football project. Mohamed Salah is not an exception.
Al Ittihad offer for Mohamed Salah
According to reports, Al Ittihad want to make Mohamed Salah the new face of Saudi Pro League with an offer that will make the Egyptian forward the highest-paid player in the league, overtaking Cristiano Ronaldo’s £173m annual salary with Al Nassr.
The Saudi Pro League giants are reportedly ready to pay Liverpool a club record transfer fee of £86m for Salah while Salah will earn a weekly wage offer worth over £3.4m – Cristiano Ronaldo’s weekly wage at Al Nassr.
Like other big-name stars joining the league, other perks have been attached to the proposed deal. Salah will automatically take up an ambassadorial role for Saudi Arabia which will earn him extra millions in addition to his contract. Also included in the package is a private jet and other luxury perks.
Liverpool Reacts to Al Ittihad’s siege on Salah
According to Daily Mail, Liverpool are not ready to lose their key man and are not ready to enter into talks with Al Ittihad for Salah. The club are unyielding on their ‘no-sale’ decision as Klopp considers Salah irreplaceable at Liverpool at least for now having lost Jordan Henderson to Al Etiffaq, Firmino to Al Ahli, and Fabinho to Al Ittihad.
Mo Salah is Liverpool’s highest-paid player in the club’s history with his current £358,000 weekly contract but reports from Saudi outlets claim the Egyptian has been tempted by the offered and is giving it a consideration.
Al Ittihad have reportedly met with his representatives in pursuit of the move but nothing concrete has been confirmed yet.
Salah has scored 187 goals for Liverpool, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, Community Shield, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.
His exit could be a hard pill for Jurgen Klopp to swallow with the transfer window winding down.
