Mohamed Salah‘s agent is reportedly in talks with a club in Saudi Arabia ahead of the summer, while Arne Slot has attracted attention for his press conference comments.
Al-Ittihad open talks with Mohamed Salah
Salah’s future remains uncertain despite all being resolved between him and Slot after his comments late last year, with this summer the last chance Liverpool could recoup a fee.
He has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia every window since what feels like the beginning of time, with figureheads readily name-checking the Egyptian.
Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna has now claimed his agent has “opened talks” with Al-Ittihad, one of the clubs owned by the Public Investment Fund, over a summer transfer.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, January 28, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and Qaraba? FK at Anfield. Liverpool won 6-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
They recently lost Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante, while ex-Red Fabinho‘s contract with the club expires in the summer.
It must be said that Aouna is not the most reliable reporter out there, and he even had Salah’s agent Ramy Abbas refuting a claim pertaining to the winger a couple of years ago.
And while is not beyond reason that they are testing the waters as Al-Ittihad previously failed with a £150 million bid for Salah in 2023, we cannot take it as fact – and we’re sure Abbas will let us know if it’s nonsense!
Liverpool News: Joe Gomez return update & Calvin Ramsay still not an option
• Arne Slot was pretty brutal when he ruled Calvin Ramsay out from starting at Sunderland despite being his only available right-back specialist. You hope the Scot hasn’t read or heard about it!
• Joe Gomez was expected to return to training on Tuesday in a timely boost, but he will not make a return to the XI, leaving Curtis Jones or Wataru Endo to start at right-back
• Conor Bradley is out for the season but he could not be replaced in the club’s Champions League squad due to UEFA rules, meaning Ramsay was unable to be added for the knockout stages
• And Slot has received a lot of heat online from his comments about Federico Chiesa, and how qualifying for the Champions League is vital for the transfer market, which you can read here – contradictory is what comes to mind!
• There is “no suggestion” Liverpool are looking to sell Alexis Mac Allister in the summer amid links to Real Madrid – this year is now likely to be his peak value (The Athletic)
View from Sunderland: “A big factor in our success”
Ahead of Wednesday’s trip to the Stadium of Light, Henry Jackson got the view from Sunderland and how their atmosphere has been fundamental to their home success this season:
“I think we knew every home game would be vital to us staying up this year, so we made it raucous from the first match.
“The more we succeeded, the better the atmosphere became. That’s been a big factor in our success.
“Secondly, it may be extremely basic to say, but we have a tactically astute manager and a recruitment team that has purchased the best players possible.
“What’s that famous saying about football being a simple game and idiots?
“We’ve brought well, brought an atmosphere and a belief, and have a really cool, calm manager in Regis Le Bris who doesn’t let us get too high or too low.”
Football News: Tonali linked to Man United & no surgery for Mateta
LONDON, ENGLAND - Tuesday, January 7, 2025: Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali during the Football League Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg match between Arsenal FC and Newcastle United FC at the Emirates Stadium. Newcastle won 2-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
• Jean-Philippe Mateta saw his move to AC Milan fall through as they believed his knee required surgery, but Oliver Glasner has said that is not the case, though he will be sidelined for several weeks
• Unai Emery might not be keen on keeping Harvey Elliott, but he has not ruled out trying to agree a new deal for Jadon Sancho beyond his current loan agreement.
• Newcastle‘s Sandro Tonali is “high” on Man United‘s shortlist to replace Casemiro this summer, though he would command a fee around £100 million. Another saga for Newcastle on the horizon? (Telegraph)
Liverpool FC: On this day
Newcastle, England - Saturday, February 10, 2007: Liverpool's Alvaro Arbeloa in action on his debut against Newcastle United during the Premiership match at St James' Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It was on February 10, 2007 that Alvaro Arbeloa made his Liverpool debut and became the ninth of 12 Spaniards who would play for Liverpool under Rafa Benitez.
Now the manager of Real Madrid, he began life on Merseyside with a trip to Newcastle, where Liverpool lost 2-1 and Arbeloa came on for the final 15 minutes.
The right-back would go on to replace Steve Finnan as the side’s stalwart at right-back, in a quality team that featured also Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Jamie Carragher, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano.
Looking back, it is a great pity that Benitez’s team of 2007-2009 didn’t win anything.