Liverpool given Salah deadline as Saudi move looms
FT Desk
- Updated: 26 Aug 2023 20:01 BST
- 3 min read
Liverpool have been given 48 hours to make a decision over Mohamed Salah's future as the shadow of the Saudi Pro League continues to hang over the forward.
Salah has been offered the opportunity to become the latest superstar to join the cash-rich league this summer.
Al-Ittihad are keen to sign the 31-year-old, who would join the likes of Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante at the Jeddah club.
READ: REVEALED: Liverpool's NEW midfield shortlist
Reports suggest that he has been offered a three-year deal worth a mammoth £191 million a year, which would see him outstrip Benzema and even Cristiano Ronaldo to become football's highest-paid player.
Liverpool, meanwhile, could stand to earn upwards of £100m on the forward in transfer fees, though they have publicly stated they want Salah to remain at Anfield.
But the moment of truth is nearing.
Journalist Rudy Galletti claims that Al-Ittihad have imposed a deadline on talks that expires Monday.
Once 48 hours are up after the weekend, Liverpool must decide whether to accept their bid, with the Saudi side determined to do everything possible to convince the Reds - and especially manager Jurgen Klopp, who sees Salah as a key part of his team - to let him go.
Klopp's stance on Salah
Speaking on Friday, Klopp was adamant Salah still had a future at Anfield.
“It’s always a bit difficult to talk about media stories because there is nothing to talk about at the moment," he told reporters.
“We don’t have an offer, Mo Salah is still a Liverpool player, obviously for all the things we do, he’s essential and will be. There’s nothing there. If there would be something, the answer would be no.
“My life philosophy is I think about a problem when I have it. At the moment, there’s absolutely nothing. I said already if there is something, the answer would be no.”
