Mark OgdenSenior Writer, ESPN FC Sep 1, 2023, 7:49am ET3 minutes read
Liverpool ‘can’t afford’ to lose Salah despite Al Ittihad offering £150m
Mark Ogden says Liverpool turned down £150m for Al Ittihad’s Mohamed Salah but it is “unlikely” they will be able to keep their Egyptian star in the next transfer windows.
Liverpool have rejected an offer worth up to 150 million pounds ($190 million) for Mohamed Salah from Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad, sources told ESPN.
Salah, 31, has been the subject of intense speculation in recent weeks as he could be linked with a move to the Saudi champions, despite Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insisting the player would not be allowed to leave Anfield.
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But despite Liverpool saying they were aware of Al Ittihad’s interest in the Egypt international, no formal offer had been made to sign the former Chelsea and AS Roma striker.
Al Ittihad finally made their move on Friday morning, offering Salah an initial £100m, with additional incentives eventually making it worth £150m to Liverpool.
But sources have told ESPN that the offer for Salah has been rejected and that the matter is closed. A Liverpool source told ESPN: “The player is not for sale.”
Al Ittihad was keen to pair Salah with Karim Benzema, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner who joined the Jeddah-based club as a free agent from Real Madrid earlier this summer.
Salah would also have linked up with former Liverpool teammate Fabinho, who left Anfield for Al Ittihad in this transfer window, but Liverpool have ruled out any prospect of a deal.
However, Klopp said earlier on Friday he remained concerned about the threat from Saudi Arabian clubs as their transfer window remained open until mid-September.
Salah, who is under contract with Liverpool until June 2025, has not yet commented on Al Ittihad’s interest.