Liverpool made a monstrous £100million offer for Newcastle star Bruno Guimaraes before the summer transfer deadline, it has been claimed. It opens up the possibility of a possible January move that could see Newcastle’s Saudi owners finally lure Mohamed Salah to the Middle East.
The Reds made sweeping changes to their midfield in the summer. Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch all arrived at Anfield for a combined £145m.
However, reports in the Spanish media claim that Liverpool also made an eye-watering nine-figure offer for Toon ace Guimaraes. It came after the Reds lost a £115m battle for Moises Caicedo, who joined Chelsea from Brighton.
According to Spanish newspaper AS, Newcastle rejected the approach for their star midfielder. However, it could lead to another bid when the winter transfer window opens in the New Year.
Newcastle’s majority owners, the Saudi Public Investment Fund, may even see it as an opportunity to prise Salah from Merseyside. Reigning Pro League champions Al-Ittihad – also majority-owned by PIF – made an audacious £150m offer for the Egyptian in the final week of the window.
It was expected that a second, £200m proposal would be submitted before the Saudi transfer period concluded on September 7. Salah remained at Liverpool, though, and has played a key part in their successful start to the Premier League season.
But any future discussions between Liverpool and Newcastle over Guimaraes could also include a potential Saudi move for Salah. The 31-year-old is widely reported to have been open to the same switch made by former Reds team-mate Fabinho.
It would likely still take a huge bid to get Salah out of Liverpool. It was likely that even a £200m offer was not going to be enough. But come next summer, the winger will have just one year remaining on his contract and might be more attainable.
Klopp will indeed take some convincing to sell his best player. He insisted in late August that Salah was ‘committed’ to Liverpool and that the speculation was unsubstantial.
Speaking after Liverpool beat Aston Villa 3-0, Klopp said: “He played a top game. Mo had to work super hard and he did. I’ve never had, and I don’t have now, doubts about his future, his commitment to this club. .
“Believe me, you can’t imagine how much fuss the whole world makes and how calm we are with it. He’s our player, he wants to play here and that’s it.”
