Saudi Dealmakers Interested in Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah as Exit Update Emerges

Saudi dealmakers retain their interest in signing Liverpool forward Mohammed Salah, GMS understands.

Saudi side Al-Ittihad made a £150m bid in summer 2023, which was turned down over the phone by FSG president Mike Gordon. Saudi sources believe Al-Hilal are now the most likely club to make a move with the door potentially open to a January transfer following Salah’s explosive comments.

Mohamed Salah Speaks Out on Liverpool Situation

Salah was benched for the third straight game as Liverpool drew 3-3 at Leeds and after the match revealed he believes he has been “thrown under the bus” and that his relationship with head coach Arne Slot is broken.

“I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame,” said Salah, speaking to assembled media from Elland Road.

“I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager, and all of a sudden we don’t have any relationship. I don’t know why but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn’t want me in the club.

“It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame… I am not bigger than anyone but I earned my position. It’s football. It is what it is.”

Salah added he will say his goodbyes at Anfield this weekend when Liverpool host Brighton before going off to AFCON, hinting at a potential mid-season exit. It remains to be seen if this is a tactic to put pressure on both Slot and Liverpool’s hierarchy or whether the Egyptian would genuinely consider a move away this winter six months before the 2026 World Cup.

Liverpool Relaxed About Mohamed Salah Situation

Liverpool are understood to be relaxed about the situation, while Al-Hilal sources stressing they are prepared to be patient to try and land Salah unless a market opportunity presents itself. The 33-year-old only signed a new two-year extension over the summer and Liverpool announced the deal with Salah sitting on a throne at Anfield.

Liverpool have an excellent relationship with Al-Hilal and sold Darwin Nunez to the Saudi club over the summer for €53m plus add-ons. Salah would command a number north of that package even with tensions building and only a year left on his contract this summer.

Salah has been aware for some time that a move to the Saudi Pro League would result in a wage similar to that of Cristiano Ronaldo. He is viewed as a poster boy for the league and when base wage, bonuses and extra earning power all considered, could be set to earn around €200m per season.

Saudi are not Salah’s only option, however, should be chose to leave Liverpool. Plenty of European sides will be alert to his situation, although many could only afford a loan, something Liverpool are unlikely to sanction. MLS side San Diego have also discussed Salah, but are yet to make a meaningful approach.

Salah scored 29 times in the Premier League last season as Liverpool won the title in Slot’s first season in charge, but this campaign he has just four league goals in 13 appearances.

Regardless of what happens next, Salah will go down as a Liverpool legend. He has scored 188 Premier League goals since joining Liverpool with only Alan Shearer (260), Harry Kane (213) and Wayne Rooney (208) registering more. Salah’s total is actually 190, since he also got two goals for Chelsea in the Premier League.

However, his comments only add to Liverpool’s difficult start to the season and overshadow Tuesday’s important Champions League trip to Inter, with Slot likely to be asked more on Salah than the game itself.