Saudis raid Liverpool with ANOTHER transfer attempt

Stuart Telford

• 29 Aug 2023 11:15 BST
• 3 min read

Liverpool are trying to keep Mohamed Salah out of the clutches of the Saudi Pro League, and they could also lose Joe Gomez to the aggressive Middle-Eastern operation.

The Reds have already seen Fabinho and captain Jordan Henderson leave Anfield for Al-Ittihad and Al-Ettifaq this summer - the latter reuniting with Steven Gerrard - while Al-Ittihad have also been persistent in their pursuit of Salah.

The Egyptian winger has reportedly been offered around €200 million a season - commensurate with what Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar earn at Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal respectively - but Jurgen Klopp has said that Liverpool won't countenance a move.

READ: CONFIRMED: Liverpool resolute on Salah staying

Salah's agent has also reaffirmed his player's commitment to Liverpool, but Joe Gomez could yet follow Fabinho to the King Abdullah Sports City north of Jeddah.

"Al-Ittihad have a shortlist of defenders - Liverpool's Joe Gomez is very high on that list," transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano posted on Twitter.

Liverpool 'have no intention' of selling

"Al-Ittihad like Gomez as a versatile player who can play anywhere across the back line. [But] Liverpool insist they’ve got no intention to sell important players in the final days [of the transfer window]."

READ: Liverpool fans find 'PROOF' of THREE transfers

Gomez is valued at €27.2m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm and has an ETV of €33.7m, but he is third-choice centre-back at best at Anfield, with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate clearly ahead of him and Joel Matip's standing versus his debatable.

He can also play at right-back, but Trent Alexander-Arnold seems unassailable there, despite his recent defensive struggles.

Gomez was linked with a move to Aston Villa last summer while Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton have all previously been credited with an interest in his services, but Liverpool have held firm on England international until now.

If he did move to Al-Ittihad, Gomez would find former Europe-based stars N'Golo Kante and Karim Benzema - as well as Fabinho - as teammates.