Saudi Arabia renews interest in Salah

The Saudi Pro League (SPL) will make renewed attempts to sign Mohamed Salah next summer with the Liverpool forward the main target in the cash-rich competition’s next phase of expansion. 

Al-Ittihad caused consternation at Anfield last summer by making a staggering £200 million bid for Salah late in the transfer window which Liverpool were ultimately able to resist, and a more strategic attempt to woo the Egyptian superstar is planned over the coming months.

After investing £750m on new players during the last transfer window the SPL’s spending is set to slow down next year as they are locked into all their broadcast and commercial contracts for the next 18 months, but Salah is regarded as an exception.

The 31-year-old is viewed as an even more important transfer target for the SPL than Cristiano Ronaldo, who provided instant credibility when he joined Al Nassr after leaving Manchester United 12 months ago, as he remains at his peak and is an icon throughout the Arab world.

Over 10,000 Egyptian fans were at the King Abdullah Stadium in Jeddah last Thursday to watch African champions Al Ahly beat Al-Ittihad to reach the semi-finals of the Club World Cup, where they will meet Brazil’s South American champions Fluminense today. 

Although primarily a Saudi-government project to diversify the kingdom’s economy beyond oil, the expansion of the SPL has excited passions across the Middle East and Africa, and recruiting Salah would fuel such growth further.

Salah will have 12 months left on his current £300,00-a-week contract next summer, leaving Liverpool with a stark choice between cashing in or offering him a mega deal to end his career at the club. — Daily Mail