Salah’s wages would be comparable to Neymar and Ronaldo’s.
Liverpool have insisted he’s not for sale.
The final days of the transfer window should be interesting
Mohamed Salah to Al-Ittihad? Saudi club prepare $162 million bid in attempt to persuade Liverpool to sell
Liverpool continue to insist that Salah is not for sale with the Premier League transfer deadline looming on Friday
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Al-Ittihad is reportedly planning to challenge Liverpool’s firm stance on keeping Mohamed Salah by offering a package worth €150 million ($162 million) for the 31-year-old Egyptian forward. Sources from CBS Sports indicate that Al-Ittihad, the title holders of the Saudi Pro League, have identified Salah as their top priority target and aim to finalize the deal before their transfer window closes on September 20. This proposed offer would significantly surpass the current transfer record in Saudi Arabia, set by Al-Hilal’s payment of $97 million for Neymar earlier this month.
The potential deal is said to consist of approximately $108 million in guaranteed payments to Liverpool, with an additional $54 million in performance-related bonuses, some of which may be challenging to achieve. Despite Al-Ittihad’s intentions, Liverpool has remained resolute in their refusal to sell Salah. The Egyptian international recently showcased his enduring brilliance by providing the assist for Darwin Nunez’s winning goal in Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Newcastle.
In an official statement, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp emphasized Salah’s importance to the team, stating, “Mo Salah is a Liverpool player and essential for everything we do. If there were to be any offers, the answer would be no. My philosophy in life is to address problems when they arise, and currently, there is absolutely nothing.”
Al-Ittihad hopes to persuade Salah to consider a move to Saudi Arabia by offering a salary package comparable to top players like Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo, who reportedly earn around $216 million per year when factoring in bonuses and endorsements. However, Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas, stated earlier this month that if they had considered leaving Liverpool this year, they would not have renewed Salah’s contract last summer. Abbas emphasized Salah’s commitment to Liverpool, and the new contract extends for an additional two years, making Salah the highest-paid player in the club’s history.
Al-Ittihad’s strong pursuit of Salah in the final days of the transfer window is partly motivated by their desire to make a significant impact in the upcoming Club World Cup, where they will participate as the host nation in December. Additionally, the Saudi Arabian champions are actively seeking a prominent center-back addition, with former Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain defender Sergio Ramos emerging as a potential option. While they expressed interest in Arsenal’s Gabriel and Manchester United’s Raphael Varane, their pursuits have not yielded positive results so far.