Liverpool are making moves to extend Mohamed Salah’s contract amid fresh links with the Saudi Pro League as journalist Mark Ogden reports on their most high-profile transfer targets.
Salah was the subject of a gargantuan £150 million bid from Al-Hilal before the start of the 2023/24 Premier League season.
Both Liverpool and Salah dismissed the bid immediately and despite rumblings in the media, nothing concrete has emerged despite a claim from Football Insider that the deal was done.
However, nothing has changed for the decision-makers in the Pro League with Salah, alongside Paul Pogba, seen as the most coveted targets for the Saudi league due to their practising Islam.
Speaking on ESPN, Ogden said: “I went over to Saudi to do something on Newcastle, and I was speaking to people in Saudi Arabia, and I was told that the two biggest players in Saudi Arabia by a million miles were Paul Pogba and Mohamed Salah because they’re both practising Muslims.
“I think that people need to factor in with Mo Salah that he is a huge figure in that part of the world.”
Will Salah ever make the move to the Saudi Pro League?
Mohamed Salah. Credit: Imago Images
It would make sense for Salah to move to the Saudi Pro League once he’s ready to take a step away from the competition in Europe.
The Egyptian is still one of the very best attackers in the world but until he no longer craves the competition of the Premier League, I think he’ll make the move.
However, his comments about his Liverpool contract, as worrying as it is that talks have yet to start over his deal which expires in June, he’s not ready to leave yet.
To me, his comments came across as a plea to the Liverpool hierarchy to extend his stay at Anfield. If true, it may be a few years before he considers a move to Saudi Arabia.
