Mohamed Salah has dropped to the subs bench in Liverpool's recent games and interest from Saudi Arabia has reportedly reignited amid such uncertainty.
Salah sits on Liverpool's bench.
Mohamed Salah has found his place under threat at Liverpool.
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Everything you need to know about Mohamed Salah's Liverpool future as transfer links to Saudi Arabian clubs return after he was dropped from the starting line-up...
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) remains actively engaged in pursuing Mohamed Salah and is prepared to financially support a significant move, as per The Telegraph. The interest is dependant on the Egypt forward indicating that he would be open to leaving Liverpool.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has admitted to feeling 'uneasy' about consistently dropping a player of Salah's calibre, who has been phenomenal for the club. Despite making that tough call, Slot reiterated his desire to see Salah "doing something special" on the pitch in the future.
Prominent pundits, such as Jamie Redknapp and Jamie Carragher, have voiced their concerns that Salah's recent omissions signify he was "dropped," not rotated. Redknapp believes that if Salah is reduced to a "bit-part player," something dramatic "has to give" and he may deserve to seek a move.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk confirmed Salah was naturally "disappointed" to be benched for successive games for the first time in his Premier League career at the club. However, Van Dijk insisted that reaction is "absolutely normal" for such an elite competitor as he affirmed Salah's continued professionalism in training and support for his teammates.
The squad's leadership has reinforced the message that no player is guaranteed a starting place - regardless of their past achievements. Van Dijk stressed that "no one is undroppable" and that everyone, including Salah, must perform consistently to remain in the side.
The period of benching has led to speculation Liverpool are beginning a strategic shift away from revolving solely around their star forward. Carragher suggested the club may be taking a "glimpse" at transitioning to a "post-Salah era" by prioritising younger talent.
Salah's immediate future involves departing for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Egypt on December 15th, forcing Slot to manage without him for several weeks. The timing of Slot's decision to drop Salah - right before his departure - has added to the drama and scrutiny surrounding the situation.
Previous reports from the time of initial Saudi Arabian interest, under their former manager Jurgen Klopp, maintained that Salah was fully "committed" to Liverpool and saw his future at Anfield. This historical commitment now faces fresh questions following a clear breakdown in his guaranteed starting role under Slot and the current managerial set-up.