Liverpool: Mohamed Salah to become the most expensive player in football history?
Is Mohamed Salah set to leave Liverpool? A Saudi club are reportedly determined to make him the most expensive player in football history
Sport News Africa · Author profile ·
Listen to this story
Audio version in preparation · read aloud by your browser meanwhile
The numbers are eye-watering. Al Ittihad want to sign Mohamed Salah, and the Saudi club are fully prepared to dip into their pockets to do it. The club where Karim Benzema plays are reportedly ready to put 233 million euros on the table. That would make the Egyptian the most expensive player in football history, plain and simple. The top spot is still held by Neymar, whose 222 million euro move from Barça to Parais Saint-Germain set the record.
In a single transfer window, Saudi Arabia has landed Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema, Kalidou Koulibaly, Neymar, Milinvic-Savic, and before them Cristiano Ronaldo. Can it now make Mohamed Salah the newest star in its constellation? Either way, it is certainly spending big, and the Reds are fearful of losing their Pharaoh. What is more, they cannot replace him immediately, since their transfer window closed on 1 September. They will therefore have to wait until January and make do in the meantime. And to add to the club's worries, the English press claims the Egyptian wants to join the Saudi Pro League.
Klopp calm, but the Saudi window is not shut yet
As you would expect, Jurgen Klopp has no wish at all to lose his spearhead. Liverpool, who are in the Europa League and want to fight for a top four place in the Premier League, will need Mohamed Salah. Asked about it, the German manager appeared surprisingly relaxed. "From my point of view, I don't see any reason at all to worry. Mo' is fully committed. He is really going all out in training. Everything is fine, we are here and everything is fine," he said.
According to some sources, the Saudi transfer window closes on 20 September, although the Saudi league gives the date as 07 September on its website. Either way, a Mohamed Salah transfer would get people talking, especially if he moves for 233 million euros at the age of 31. For reference, Neymar was 26 when he broke the transfer record. Before him, Cristian Ronaldo, who was the most expensive player, cost 94 million euros at 24.