Besiktas’ pursuit of Mohamed Salah continues to dominate headlines across Turkey and Egypt, but the club’s president has now offered a response that reveals almost nothing while saying a great deal about where the deal currently stands.
The Turkish giants have reportedly made Salah their marquee target following his departure from Liverpool at the end of the 2025/26 season, which brought to a close one of the most decorated individual careers in Premier League history.
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Reports suggest Besiktas have tabled a package worth in the region of €10 million to €12 million per year in base salary, supplemented by performance bonuses, with contract proposals varying between a straight two year arrangement and a one year deal with an option for a second season.
It would represent one of the biggest signings in Süper Lig history.
Progress, however, has been complicated.
Turkish reporting, notably from journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu, indicated that negotiations stalled over a commission demand of around €7.5 million from Salah’s long time representative, Ramy Abbas Issa.
President Serdal Adalı reportedly pushed back firmly against those figures, and subsequent updates suggest Abbas has since softened his position, moving closer to the threshold Adalı proposed and bringing the two sides nearer to a resolution.
Against that backdrop, Egyptian journalist Ismael Mahmoud, a well respected voice on matters concerning Salah and the Egyptian national team, approached Adalı directly to ask about the specifics of Besiktas’ latest offer and whether any deadline had been attached to it.
Mahmoud reported the exchange on X, writing, “I talked to Mr Serdal Adali, asked him about their last offer and if there is any deadline for it, he told me, ‘Ask Ramy Abbas’.”
The three word answer speaks volumes.
Rather than confirming or denying the existence of a deadline, Adalı effectively placed the entire matter at the feet of Salah’s agent, signalling that from Besiktas’ perspective the ball is firmly in the player’s court.
It also implicitly suggests the club believe their offer is on the table and that any remaining delay is not of their making.
Ramy Abbas, for his part, has publicly downplayed premature reports suggesting a deal had been signed or finalised, stressing that discussions involving multiple potential destinations remain fluid until an official agreement is executed.
The stakes are considerable for Besiktas.
Salah leaves Liverpool having scored 257 goals and provided 120 assists across 442 appearances, becoming the club’s fourth highest all time scorer while winning the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, and Club World Cup.
He collected four Premier League Golden Boots, two Player of the Season awards, and finished his final season at Anfield with 29 goals and 18 assists.
Besiktas have already completed the high profile arrival of Leandro Trossard this summer, but no official announcement or medical has been confirmed regarding Salah.
For now, as Adalı himself made clear, the answers lie elsewhere.
I talked to Mr Serdal Adali, asked him about their last offer and if there is any deadline for it, he told me:” Ask Ramy Abbas”
— Ismael Mahmoud – إسماعيل محمود (@ismaeelmahmoudd) July 25, 2026
Besiktas
Mohamed Salah