Saudi clubs considering January swoop for Mohamed Salah amid Liverpool fall out to follow Cristiano Ronaldo as next Pro League ‘poster boy’

Multiple Saudi Arabian clubs have Mohamed Salah on their radar, talkSPORT can reveal.

Salah hinted he’ll say his ‘goodbyes’ when Liverpool host Brighton on Saturday at Anfield. The Egyptian striker will head off to AFCON after that game with his Liverpool future unclear.

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It follows Salah’s claims he has been ‘thrown under the bus’ by the club and that his relationship with Arne Slot is broken.

Liverpool continue to back Slot and have left Salah out of the squad to face Inter in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.

However, as it stands, Liverpool also remain committed to Salah for the remainder of his contract. After the game with Inter, a discussion will be had as to whether Salah will be involved against Brighton.

Liverpool view the decision to omit Salah from their Champions League squad this week as a pragmatic and a short-term response following his words to assembled media at Elland Road.

Little further action is anticipated from the club with the ball now firmly in Salah’s court.

Saudi side Al-Hilal still have Salah on their radar having seriously explored a move to try and land the 33-year-old before the Club World Cup.

However, the Riyadh-based team are not Salah’s only suitors from Saudi.

NEOM FC hold a concrete interest. talkSPORT understands Christophe Galtier’s side are prepared to make a move if Salah becomes genuinely available in January and, as importantly, is affordable.

Al-Qadsiah are also monitoring the situation closely and would be capable of self-funding a deal without relying on Ministry of Sport funding. They are owned by Aramco and are quickly becoming a major Saudi Pro League player.

Saudi Pro League sporting director Michael Emenalo would also play a key role in any deal since he has a close relationship with Salah.

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Senior sports officials in Saudi view Salah as a poster boy for the league and believe he can help retain a global audience after Cristiano Ronaldo leaves, which is currently set to be summer 2027.

As a result, Salah would be made one of the best-paid players in the league. With wage, bonuses and additional earnings factored in, he would stand to make around £175m per season.

Reports have suggested Salah and Liverpool could agree a mutual termination in January, but this has been downplayed by sources speaking to talkSPORT.

Liverpool are still planning with Salah until summer 2027 and their all-time top scorer would have to present the club with concrete exit plans in order to change the club’s position. Liverpool are unlikely to make any concessions, including waiving a transfer fee.

Al-Ittihad made an offer of £150m, including £50m in add-ons, back in summer 2023, which was turned down by FSG chief Mike Gordon.

And although Liverpool’s valuation is not as high two years on, a fee significantly surpassing the £45m-plus-add-ons package that saw Darwin Nunez to Al-Hilal over the summer would be required if the club agree to change their stance of Salah simply seeing out his current contract.

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Al-Ittihad have not made a fresh approach for Salah since 2023 and sources inside the club stress they would only consider a new bid for Salah if Karim Benzema departs, with his contract currently set to expire next year, and in the summer because their foreign quota for players is full.

The Jeddah-based side are not considered a frontrunner for Salah as it stands from the Saudi clubs who are interested.

Senior figures at multiple Saudi clubs, speaking anonymously to talkSPORT to protect relationships, are currently cautious as to whether Salah is a genuine market opportunity for January.

Clubs were anticipating he might become available after the World Cup and must now consider whether to make an ambitious mid-season move.

Two MLS clubs are also worth watching out for. 2025 expansion side San Diego have tended to buy younger players and invest in their own Academy, but their Egyptian-British owner Mohamed Mansour is understood to be tempted by Salah if he shows a willingness to move to America.

Chicago Fire is another potential MLS option. The Fire made a formal approach to Salah before he extended with Liverpool last April and have the funds to pull off a transfer, which would smash the MLS record fee of £20m that saw Son move to Los Angeles FC.