The Saudi Pro League club have spent the last few weeks openly courting Salah and had a whopping £150m verbal offer rejected by the Reds, which was made public on Friday’s transfer deadline day after talks between Ittihad chiefs and Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon reportedly took place on Thursday evening.
Liverpool have always insisted, both publicly and privately, that Salah is not for sale but that hasn’t deterred the Saudi club who are now preparing one last push for the Reds’ No.11 before their own deadline on Thursday, September 7.
There had initially been conflicting reports of when the Saudi window shuts, with some suggesting it was as late as September 20. However, the league’s official website confirms Ittihad will have until Thursday to get a deal for Salah concluded.
That, though, is something Liverpool have no interest in facilitating and have consistently made their stance clear, reiterating their refusal to entertain offers at the top of the week.
It was reported on Monday that a delegation from the Middle East flew into London on Saturday to try and negotiate a deal for Salah, who has just under two years left to run on the biggest contract of all time at Anfield at around £350,000.
It’s been claimed that some within the Ittihad hierarchy view Tuesday as their last day to make a breakthrough in their efforts to bring the Egypt captain to Saudi Arabia with reports suggesting an improved bid could go up to as much as £200m, which would match the all-time record transfer that saw Neymar move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.
Sources in the Middle East revealed to the ECHO how Ittihad thought they had their man last week and had even lined up a private jet to take the player to Jeddah on Friday before their overtures were instantly rejected by FSG chief Gordon, who is the most hands-on of the club’s Boston-based ownership group.
Jurgen Klopp once more stated the club were not looking to do business over Salah after the forward scored his 188th Liverpool goal in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Aston Villa.
“He didn’t tell me [he is staying], but he didn’t have to,” said the Liverpool boss. “He speaks with his training and performances and behaviour. We had meetings this week, and the meetings were not about what we did in the past, it was about what we will do in the future.
“Mo was with the players’ (leadership) committee and had his moments where he was talking and it was nothing like ‘by the way, this is only until next week’ or whatever.
“He is completely here and if Dom (Szoboszlai) said that, fine. Mo doesn’t have to come into my office and tell me ‘by the way, boss (I’m not going)’. For me it wasn’t a subject for one second, to be honest, besides the questions (from the outside).”
Liverpool consider the matter closed and are planning for the rest of the season with Salah in their ranks as he attempts to add to a tally that has made him the most prolific marksman of the Premier League era at Anfield.
