With Mohamed Salah strongly hinting that he will leave Liverpool in January if Arne Slot remains head coach, the Saudi Pro League have made their interest known.
Salah’s interview in the wake of his third game on the bench has opened up a can of worms for Liverpool – during an unfathomably poor run of form.
A 3-3 draw with Leeds on Saturday evening means Slot’s side have won just four of their last 15 games, and speaking to journalists after full-time, Salah said: “Someone doesn’t want me in the club.”
With the Egyptian admitting he suddenly has no relationship with Slot himself, he went on to suggest that next weekend’s clash with Brighton could be his last game for Liverpool if nothing changes.
Saudi Pro League interested in Mo Salah transfer
BBC Sport have since reported that there is still interest in bringing Salah to the Saudi Pro League despite the 33-year-old signing a new two-year contract.
Al-Hilal, currently second in the Saudi top flight under Simone Inzaghi, are named among the possible destinations for Salah if he were to move.
The reason the Saudi Pro League itself is credited with an interest is due to the difference in how their recruitment operates, with the nation’s Public Investment Fund owning the four biggest clubs including Al-Hilal.
It remains to be seen if Salah would consider a move to Saudi Arabia at this stage, with the belief at present that his comments are designed to provoke a decision from Liverpool over Slot’s future.
But the forward has evidently courted overtures from the Middle East in the past, with Al-Ittihad unsuccessful in a bid worth £150 million back in 2023.
What Mohamed Salah said about leaving Liverpool in January
Speaking to the assembled press in the mixed zone at Elland Road, Salah revealed that he had invited his mother to Anfield for the clash with Brighton on December 13 as it could be his final appearance.
“This club, I’ll always support it, my kids will always support it, I love the club so much. I always will do,” he said.
“I called my mum yesterday and told them ‘come to the Brighton game’, it doesn’t matter if I play or not, I’m going to enjoy it.
“We’ll see what’s going to happen, but in my head I’m going to enjoy that game if I play or not, I’m on the bench or not.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen now, but that’s going to be at Anfield, say goodbye to the fans before the Africa Cup, because I don’t know what’s going to happen when I’m there.”
Salah will join the Egypt squad for the Africa Cup of Nations directly after the meeting with Brighton and could stay at the tournament in Morocco until mid-January.