Saudi Pro League teams are targeting Mohamed Salah as his stand-off with Liverpool continues. The forward raised eyebrows on Saturday night when he gave an explosive interview after his side’s 3-3 draw with Leeds United.
Salah claimed he had been “thrown under the bus” after being dropped to the bench by Arne Slot and also said Saturday’s clash with Brighton could be his last game for the club. As a result of the interview, he was omitted from the squad for Tuesday’s 1-0 Champions League win over Inter Milan at the San Siro.
Salah signed a new contract in April which made him the club’s highest-paid player, but clubs in the Saudi Pro League teams are now monitoring his situation. Speaking at the World Football Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Pro League chief executive Omar Mugharbel confirmed: "Mohamed Salah is welcome in the Saudi League, but it is the clubs that are responsible for negotiating with players. For sure Salah is one of them [a target]."
A Public Investment Fund source also told the AFP news agency: “We follow Salah’s position thoroughly and believe there can be a move either on loan or through a permanent transfer.
“There are no direct negotiations with the club yet, but action will be taken at the right moment.”
The PIF owns a stake in Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad, while Al-Qadsiah have also been named as a possible next club for Salah. Speaking after the win in Milan, Slot initially suggested Salah should be the first to apologise before later softening his stance.
In an interview with Amazon Prime Video, he said: “First you have to ask if the player feels he made a mistake. I’m going to talk to him. But then you have to ask, 'Should the initiative come from me?'"
But in his post-match conference, he clarified: “I didn’t say who should make the first step. Tonight it should be all about the players that are here. In the rich history Liverpool has had, they have had many of these evenings.”
Giving his take on situation, former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard told TNT Sports: "He's obviously really upset he's not playing, which I respect.
"A couple of lines about throwing people under the bus were wrong. [He] needs to reverse a little bit away from that, he needs to deal with that with the manager. We've all had head loss as players. We've all done emotional things.
"I know in time when this all calms, Mo will go, 'I shouldn't have said that. Maybe I shouldn't have said that. I was a bit emotional, I was a bit hasty'."
Before the former Reds skipper added: "I've seen this and I've lived it with (Luis) Suarez when he fell out with Brendan (Rodgers) face to face. I've been there and done it mysel."