Liverpool might not be able to sign anyone else at the moment but that has not stopped the rumor mill from churning. That is because there is very real interest from Saudi Arabia in 31-year-old forward Mohamed Salah.
The Saudi transfer window does not close for another couple of days and therefore Al Ittihad still has some hope of persuading Liverpool to sell — though the Reds insist that he will not be going anywhere. Losing Salah now, just as the season starts and with no hope of finding a replacement until January, would make no sense.
It begs the question of why the Saudi Pro League side did not make a move earlier in the summer, leaving it open to accusations that this is simply a PR stunt or a move to show just how disruptive it hopes to be in the soccer world.
It is also possible, of course, that Al Ittihad is just laying the groundwork for a proper tilt at convincing Salah to make the switch on a more long-term basis when it would make more sense for the player. Right now, he remains at the top of his game and leaving the Premier League for a division considerably weaker would be a mistake.
Here is the Liverpool.com verdict on the transfer gossip to emerge around the Reds today, including the latest on Salah’s future as another bid could be lodged after an initial proposal of around $188m (£150m/€175m) was flatly rejected.
Kylian Mbappé (PSG)
PSG superstar Kylian Mbappé is almost certainly heading to Real Madrid as a free agent next summer but the French outlet L’Equipe reports that he is considering Liverpool as a destination as well.
PSG superstar Kylian Mbappé is almost certainly heading to Real Madrid as a free agent next summer but the French outlet L’Equipe reports that he is considering Liverpool as a destination as well.
Mbappé would supposedly entertain the idea of a move to Liverpool but the financial aspect of the deal remains incredibly difficult to see happening from the Anfield side’s perspective. His wages would be enormous.
Mohamed Salah to Saudi Arabia latest
Talking of Salah, more updates continue to arrive surrounding the Egyptian, though Liverpool’s stance has not changed: he is simply not for sale right now.
The i Paper reports that a bid worth a total of $270m (£215m/€251m) is on the verge of being submitted by Al Ittihad but even that would not be enough to tempt the Reds into letting Salah leave.
Liverpool.com says: Even at that sum, what use is the money to Liverpool now? The Reds will believe that they can sell Salah next summer for a fee of a similar amount, by which time there would be enough time passed for a plan to be put in place.
In the meantime, Salah could help fire Liverpool to at least a Champions League finish (worth a considerable amount of money alone) and some silverware as well. If the Saudi Pro League is prepared to go as high as $270m now, it will be returning for him again.
