Will Mohamed Salah join Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia? Update on Liverpool star’s future following talk of £150m transfer bids

The Egyptian icon was targeted by sides in that region during the summer transfer window of 2023, with reports suggesting that bids of around £150 million ($192m) were tabled. No deal was done, with Salah tied to a contract at Anfield through to 2025.

Another push is expected to be made from the Saudi Pro League at some stage, with Salah’s former team-mates Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino having already followed the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to an ambitious and big-spending division. There is, however, little chance of Salah treading that path early in 2024.

Former Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo, who is now the Saudi Pro League’s director of football, has told Sky Sports when asked if another marquee signing could be completed in the New Year: “Mo Salah, like [Lionel] Messi, Benzema, Ronaldo and the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, these are players that, when there is a sense of availability for them, we are willing to listen. But we also understand that Mo is happy where he is at present and in a historic, wonderful club at Liverpool. We respect that very much and we don't want to come across as putting any pressure on him. But if there is any interest to do something, Mo Salah is a player that you want in your league, in any league.”

He added on the prospect of a mid-season deal being pushed through: “We respect Liverpool and in this scenario, the initiative to do anything won't come from us. There has to be an aligned interest from all parties involved. It's a very personal thing, as a player that I recruited [for Chelsea] and I like. There's nothing I'm saying that is new or ground-breaking - that a player of this level of talent is available and your league wants him. If Mo Salah is available, has an interest to come and everything is aligned, I would be incredibly delighted.”

Salah has reached the 200-goal mark at Liverpool, having previously helped them to Premier League, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, FA Cup and Carabao Cup honours – with there seemingly little left for the two-time PFA Player of the Year to achieve in English football.