Image Credits: Imago Images
The Premier League has never been short of transfer noise, but few stories carry as much weight as Mohamed Salah’s future at Liverpool. For several seasons, Saudi Arabian clubs have hovered in the background, watching closely as Europe’s elite stars approach the later stages of their careers. Liverpool have already felt that pressure before. They turned down a £150 million offer from Al-Ittihad in 2023 and have had to manage constant speculation ever since. This season added a fresh layer to that tension. Salah’s role under new head coach Arne Slot became a talking point in early December. His comments after the match at Elland Road raised eyebrows and sparked serious debate. January suddenly felt closer than ever. For Liverpool, the challenge was not just about contracts or wages. It was about stability during a packed season, while competing on multiple fronts and adapting to a new manager. The Saudi Pro League, meanwhile, is changing its approach. The league has already landed global icons like Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar. Attention is now shifting. Recruitment is becoming more strategic. Younger profiles are being prioritised. That shift matters when assessing whether a deal for a 33-year-old Salah still fits their vision. Only later did clarity begin to emerge.
According to the iPaper, interest from Saudi clubs has cooled ahead of the January window. Reports indicate that leading clubs sense little chance of completing a deal mid-season. Salah remains under contract until June 2027 and earns £350,000 per week. That still makes Saudi Arabia one of the few realistic destinations financially. But momentum has slowed. The report read, “For now, Mo seems to have got his way, it is nothing we haven’t seen before – he likes to stir the pot to get his way. There is certainly less faith here that a January move could happen as a result.” “I would say the top teams here, like Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr, would get into the Premier League top six in England with their current squads, top four in Spain. Higher in Italy. Look at the players we have, in their prime. Ruben Neves, Joao Cancelo, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Kingsley Coman, Joao Felix – all elite European players who turned down top European clubs. Salah would be great, but the way we are growing our scouting networks, analytics, ability to attract younger players – Al-Hilal just signed a 22-year-old Brazilian for £40m from Benfica – we are almost there in our development. This must remain our focus.” Slot also addressed the situation directly after Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Wolves on December 27. He said, “When I think when I used him in the squad against Brighton, that was a sign that we had moved on and I brought him in with the first substitution I made.” He added, “So we’ve moved on but now he is at the AFCON and they have important games over there, so it is fair to him and the Egypt team that we don’t talk about him as much here when it comes to Liverpool.” Slot continued, “But that is also fair to the players we have here because we are having to play a lot of games as well.” He closed by saying, “So I think it is in the best interests of us, for him and Egypt that we have already shown with actions that we have moved on after his Leeds interview and now he needs his full focus on Egypt and we need our full focus over here.” For now, Liverpool move forward with Salah still central to their plans.
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