Mohamed Salah: Al-Ittihad Targets Liverpool Star with Record-Breaking Offer
In a stunning turn of events, Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad has set its sights on Liverpool's prized forward, Mohamed Salah. Reports suggest that Al-Ittihad is confident that Salah desires a move away from Anfield and is prepared to make him the highest-paid player in the Saudi Pro League. However, not everyone is convinced of Salah's potential departure, including his close friend and former teammate, Dejan Lovren.
Spanish media outlet Relevo recently revealed Al-Ittihad's aspirations to sign Salah, but the club faces a daunting challenge in prying him away from Liverpool. With just a week left in the European transfer window and two years remaining on his contract, Salah's departure seems far from straightforward.
A move to Al-Ittihad would see Salah team up with Karim Benzema, creating an impressive attacking duo. Additionally, Salah would become a direct competitor to Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, surpassing the world-record £175 million-a-season deal that the Portuguese superstar signed just last year. The Spanish publication also suggests that Salah's religious beliefs, with Islam being the official religion of Saudi Arabia, play a significant role in his consideration of the move.
However, with the Premier League season already underway, luring Salah away from Liverpool presents a considerable challenge. The transfer deadline for the Premier League is fast approaching on Friday, September 1, leaving Liverpool with minimal time to find a suitable replacement, even if an enticing offer were to materialize.
Relevo's revelation contradicts earlier statements from Salah's agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, who previously dismissed transfer rumors and affirmed Salah's commitment to Liverpool. Issa took to Twitter to reinforce their stance, stating, "If we considered leaving LFC this year, we wouldn't have renewed the contract last summer. Mohamed remains committed to LFC."
Dejan Lovren, a former teammate of Salah's during their time at Liverpool, also expressed skepticism regarding the potential move. Lovren responded to the reports with a GIF mimicking an extending nose, accompanied by the caption "Stop Lying."
Salah, who signed a contract extension with Liverpool last year, still has two years remaining on his current deal. If the transfer were to materialize, Al-Ittihad, the reigning Saudi Arabian champions, would likely boast one of the strongest squads in the league, featuring the likes of Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante, former Celtic star Jota, and Salah's former Liverpool teammate Fabinho, under the guidance of coach Nuno Espirito Santo.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has openly criticized the fact that the Premier League transfer window closes before that of Saudi Arabia, making it more challenging for English clubs to find suitable replacements for outgoing stars at the end of the summer. Klopp expressed his concerns, stating, "One of the worst things, if I'm not mistaken, is that the Saudi Arabian market lasts three more weeks. UEFA or FIFA have to remedy this."
The football world awaits further developments as the transfer window draws to a close, and Liverpool faces the challenge of potentially losing one of their most influential players. Only time will tell whether Al-Ittihad's pursuit of Mohamed Salah will reach a successful conclusion, or if Liverpool can retain their star forward for the foreseeable future.
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