New Delhi: Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has established himself as one of the best Premier League players of all time ever since joining the Reds from AS Roma in the summer of 2017. The Egypt International has been ruling the Premier League since his arrival and recently became the sixth highest goal scorer in Premier League history, overtaking greats like Frank Lampard and Thierry Henry.
However, speculation over his future at the club remains ripe as we head towards the business end of the season. Salah’s contract is expiring come June and as of this writing, the attacker and the club haven’t been able to reach an agreement on the extension. He has been subject to interest from a lot of sides, with one such side being Saudi Pro League champions Al Hilal, who have reportedly begun their efforts to prepare a move for Salah.
A report from reputed news outlet, Givemesport claims that the Saudi dealmakers have approached Liverpool to understand their position on terminating Mo Salah’s contract in the summer. While the Egyptian forward remains in talks over a potential contract extension at Anfield, Saudi football chiefs remain determined to bring him to the Middle East, specifically to Al-Hilal, in time for the upcoming Club World Cup.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation is set to utilize FIFA’s ‘exceptional window’ from June 1-10, allowing clubs to sign players before the new 32-team tournament kicks off in the United States. However, for Al-Hilal to secure Salah in time, he would need to end his Liverpool contract almost a month before its official expiration. With the Reds having not qualified for this summer’s Club World Cup, they could be open to letting Salah leave a month early if they fail to reach an agreement over a contract extension altogether.
Al Hilal are ready to offer Mohamed Salah a lucrative contract if he wants to leave Europe and play in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi champions are looking for a high-profile signing to replace Neymar. pic.twitter.com/pWfZq45uu2
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 16, 2025
The Saudi Pro League has been targeting the Liverpool superstar for some time, with Al-Ittihad having made a £150 million verbal bid last summer, a proposal swiftly rejected by FSG chief Mike Gordon. Despite the rejection, Saudi dealmakers respected Liverpool’s position and have maintained a strong relationship with the club. As reported by Givemesport, Al-Hilal have not felt the need to submit a fresh financial proposal to Salah’s camp, as the terms from last summer’s bid remain on the table.
The league’s sporting director, Michael Emenalo, shares a strong rapport with Salah, ensuring open communication about his future. The Nigerian earlier worked as a Technical Director at Chelsea and was responsible for overlooking the club’s transfers between 2011 and 2017. Emenalo was instrumental in bringing Salah to the Blues in 2013, at a time when it looked that he was most certainly on his way to Liverpool.
The same report also claims that Liverpool are open to letting Salah leave before his contract expires, without demanding any compensation, if he decides to move on and the two parties don’t reach an agreement over an extension. If the move materializes, Salah could reportedly earn in excess of £160 million per season if he joins Al-Hilal, placing him in the same salary bracket as Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr. However, Saudi clubs will not officially offer him a contract unless given direct encouragement from his camp.
Mo Salah’s Future Remains in the Balance
“It’s my last year in the club” 🗣️
Mo Salah gives an EXCLUSIVE update on his contract at Liverpool 👇 pic.twitter.com/AIapSxSBFC
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 3, 2025
Liverpool and Salah remain engaged in contract discussions, but as per Givemesport, they are yet to reach an agreement on the length of the deal or wage structure. Despite this, sources inside the club describe negotiations as “positive.” Al-Hilal are convinced that Salah will only leave Liverpool for them, making his decision a straight choice between the Reds and the Saudi club.
European giants, including PSG, are reportedly keeping an eye on the situation, though the French club has publicly denied any negotiations. PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi shares a close friendship with Salah, adding an element of intrigue to the situation. Salah’s future is expected to be resolved soon, with Liverpool keen to retain their talisman but aware of the financial pull of Saudi Arabia. Whether he chooses to continue his legacy at Anfield or take on a new challenge in the Middle East remains to be seen.
Al Hilal also seem best placed to sign the Egyptian in the summer following Neymar’s return to Santos last month. As the Brazilian agreed to a mutual termination of his contract before rejoining Santos, the club is keen to bring in a marquee signing. Salah is viewed as the ideal replacement, not only from a sporting perspective but also for commercial reasons, with Saudi officials seeing him as the key to boosting TV rights revenues. The MENA rights package is currently up for bidding, and Saudi executives believe that securing Salah’s signature could significantly enhance the league’s global appeal
19 time Saudi Pro League champions Al Hilal have reached out to Premier League leaders Liverpool to discuss the future of their star Mohamed Salah with the Saudi side interested in signing the Egyptian. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
