In soccer circles, it’s rare for a player to be completely off-limits, which appears true for Mohamed Salah amid rumblings of interest from the Saudi Pro League.
Despite signing a new two-year deal with Liverpool that ties him down until 2027, rumours persist that the Saudi league is still keeping tabs on the revered Egyptian forward.
Al-Ahli’s president Khaled Al-Eissa explicitly mentioned earlier this week that Salah is “top of the list” regarding their target acquisitions if asked about his top preferences for signings in Saudi Arabia.
Salah is quite entrenched at Anfield, highlighted by Liverpool rejecting a staggering $200 million bid from Al-Ittihad in September 2023, indicating their determination to keep him.
Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker have also found themselves on the radar of the rich Middle Eastern league. The latter even confessed last August to being somewhat tempted by the numbers thrown around.
“I never got to the point where I was talking about wages and things like this, it was just interest, but when you hear about the numbers the other players are getting you are a little bit attracted,” he said, reports the Liverpool Echo. “That is normal. (But) I never thought about leaving. I had always decided to stay.”
Yet, the journey from Liverpool to the sands of Saudi Arabia isn’t a new one, with several ex-Reds taking up offers in recent times.
Roberto Firmino, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson made a direct switch from Anfield to the Middle East in 2023, while Sadio Mane and Gini Wijnaldum took a more roundabout path. All except Henderson are still playing in Saudi Arabia, with Firmino recently clinching the AFC Champions League Elite final with Al-Ahli.
Despite Salah, Van Dijk and Alisson making their immediate plans clear amidst interest from Saudi clubs, this won’t deter these teams from persistently trying to tempt others away from Arne Slot’s squad this summer.
(Image: Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
Darwin Nunez is high on their list, as his stint at Liverpool seems to be winding down after a disappointing season where he has barely seen action during the final months for the third consecutive year.
The Saudi Pro League showed interest in signing Nunez in January but received little encouragement from Liverpool, who were keen to keep Slot’s team intact as they were vying for titles on four fronts at the time.
However, Liverpool might be more open to offers in the summer, with Al-Hilal reportedly preparing to make a serious bid for Nunez as soon as the transfer window opens on June 1, aiming to have him ready for the FIFA Club World Cup.
Reports from Saudi Arabia suggest that Al-Hilal are keen on Luis Diaz. Liverpool plan to discuss the Colombian’s future at the end of the season, as he approaches the final two years of his contract.
In contrast to 2023, when the unexpected exits of Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi Arabia left Liverpool in a last-minute scramble for midfield replacements, any early departures – especially that of Nunez, who could fetch over £50million – would provide the Reds with plenty of time to strategise their recruitment before pre-season begins in early July.
Evidently, the Saudi Pro League is becoming a significant player in the transfer market. While they may not be eyeing Salah, it seems the Middle East continues to cast covetous glances at the Liverpool squad.
