Salah to Saudi: The Anfield Farewell Tour No One Wants
This isn't a new story. The whispers about Mohamed Salah and the Saudi Pro League have been around for a year now, ever since Al-Ittihad threw a reported £150 million bid at Liverpool last summer. That was after the August 2023 deadline, of course, so the Reds didn't even pick up the phone. But here we are again, on the cusp of another transfer window, and the rumor mill is churning harder than ever. It feels different this time, doesn't it? Like there’s a real decision to be made, not just a flat-out rejection.
Salah turns 32 in June. He’s got one year left on his current deal, signed back in 2022, which reportedly pays him north of £350,000 a week. He’s still a phenomenal talent, a Premier League Golden Boot winner three times over, most recently in 2021-22 with 23 goals. This past season, he bagged 18 league goals and 10 assists despite a mid-season injury that clearly impacted his form after the AFCON. Those are numbers most forwards only dream of, even on a "down" year for him. But Liverpool's hierarchy has a choice to make: let him walk for free next summer or cash in now, potentially for a figure that could still reach £100 million from a Saudi club with seemingly endless resources.
The Saudi Approach: More Than Just Mo
Here's the thing: it’s not just about Salah. The Saudi Pro League is getting smart. They’re not just chasing aging European stars anymore; they’re trying to build a sustainable league, or at least a more legitimate one. Part of that strategy involves bringing in top football executives. Remember Michael Emenalo, Chelsea's former technical director? He's now the director of football for the entire Saudi Pro League. And the latest target? Richard Hughes, Liverpool’s new sporting director, who officially starts his role on June 1.
Hughes only just arrived from Bournemouth, where he spent a decade, helping them navigate the Premier League. He’s got a huge job on his hands at Anfield, especially with Arne Slot taking over from Jürgen Klopp. Hughes will be instrumental in reshaping the squad, identifying targets, and negotiating deals. The idea that a Saudi outfit, reportedly Al-Ittihad again, is already trying to poach him *before he even starts* his new gig at Liverpool is wild. It shows a level of ambition, and perhaps desperation, from the Saudis to bring in genuine football minds. I actually think getting Hughes might be a bigger coup for them in the long run than any single player, even Salah. That's how critical these behind-the-scenes operators are.
The Liverpool Conundrum
Look, for Liverpool, this is a tough spot. You don't want to lose a legend like Salah, a player who has scored 211 goals in 349 appearances for the club since joining in 2017. He's won every major trophy with the Reds. He's one of the greatest to ever wear the shirt. But sentimentality doesn't win titles. If the Saudi money is truly astronomical – say, £80-100 million – that's a massive sum for a player entering the final year of his deal at 32. That kind of cash could fund a significant chunk of Slot's rebuild, bringing in multiple younger talents to refresh the attack.
My hot take? Liverpool should sell Salah if the offer hits £80 million. It’s a ruthless decision, but it’s the right one for the club’s long-term health. Keeping him for another year, only to lose him for free, feels like a wasted opportunity to inject serious capital into the squad. Besides, Slot needs to stamp his own authority on this team. Moving on from a talisman like Salah would certainly be a statement.
I predict Salah will accept a move to the Saudi Pro League this summer, with Liverpool reluctantly agreeing to a deal around £75 million, which they'll immediately reinvest in a dynamic, younger winger from the Bundesliga.