Saudi Arabian soccer figures are increasingly confident that Mohamed Salah will leave Liverpool during the summer transfer window, with sources claiming a move to the Saudi Pro League is "inevitable"
Felix Keith
09:34, 23 Jan 2026
Mohamed Salah's future at Liverpool remains unclear
Mohamed Salah's future at Liverpool remains unclear(Image: Getty Images)
Influential figures within Saudi Arabian soccer are growing increasingly convinced that Mohamed Salah will depart Liverpool during the summer transfer window.
Salah has endured a rocky period with Liverpool boss Arne Slot and, while a January move is now ruled out, a verdict on his future will be reached at the season's conclusion. Salah has been persistently linked with a lucrative switch to Saudi Arabia, with rumors intensifying in December following his very public disagreement with Slot.
The Egyptian claimed Slot had left him exposed during a difficult spell for the team, making a January departure seem probable. Nevertheless, Salah's absence from Liverpool while representing Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations provided both parties with a chance to reassess their stances, and the situation has since been resolved.
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Salah was immediately restored to the starting XI for the Reds' 3-0 triumph over Marseille following his return on Wednesday, and matters have now calmed.
The Saudi soccer spending spree appears to be losing momentum, with several stars who were tempted away from Europe's elite leagues now seeking a return.
Yet Salah commands an entirely different standing as the world's most prominent Muslim footballer – and leading Saudi clubs maintain their interest.
Salah returned to Liverpool's starting XI on Wednesday
Salah returned to Liverpool's starting XI on Wednesday(Image: Getty Images)
The i Paper cites a source from the nation who believes a summer move for Salah from Liverpool to the Saudi Pro League is "inevitable."
Previous reports suggested that Al-Hilal, Al-Qadisah and Neom were keen on securing Salah's signature, while Pro League chief Omar Mugharbel has openly declared that he would be welcomed in the division.
The Telegraph has stated that Salah and Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior are the league's two main targets, with Sadio Mane, Fabinho, N'Golo Kante and Karim Benzema all potentially departing in 2026.
There's a belief that the Pro League must make a statement signing during the summer transfer window to sustain their progress.
That pressure will only intensify should Kante and Ruben Neves depart Saudi Arabia this month. The former Chelsea midfielder Kante is reportedly in discussions to join Fenerbahce from Al-Ittihad, while the ex-Wolves player Neves has been connected with Manchester United, amongst other sides.
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Meanwhile, the Saudi Pro League is also conscious of rivalry from the Qatari Stars League, which has already secured Roberto Firmino, Marco Verratti and Julian Draxler.
Salah remains tied to Liverpool until June 2027 following an extension agreed at the conclusion of last season. Liverpool turned down a bid from Al-Ittihad in September 2023 and has repeatedly maintained he is going nowhere – and Slot heaped praise on his professionalism following the victory in Marseille.
"It says a lot about how big a professional he is that he can be away for more than a month with a different team and be so fit to play 90 minutes for us after one day of training," said Slot. "He was so close to a goal. It would usually be a goal from him, but it didn't harm us because we scored three."