Several Saudi Arabian clubs have Mohamed Salah on their radar, The Pitch Prospect can reveal.
The Egyptian striker hinted that he will say goodbye when Liverpool host Brighton at Anfield on Saturday. Salah will head to the AFCON after this game as his future at Liverpool is unclear.
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This follows Salah’s claims that he had been “thrown under the bus” by the club and that his relationship with Arne Slot had broken down.
Liverpool continue to support Slot and have left Salah out of the squad for Tuesday night’s game against Inter in the Champions League.
However, Liverpool are currently tied to Salah for the remaining term of his contract. After the game with Inter there will be a discussion about whether Salah will feature against Brighton.
Liverpool sees the decision to leave Salah out of their Champions League squad this week as a pragmatic and short-term response to his words to the assembled media at Elland Road.
Since the ball is now firmly in Salah’s court, the club is unlikely to take any further action.
Saudi club Al-Hilal still have Salah on their radar and are seriously considering signing the 33-year-old before the Club World Cup.
However, the Riyadh-based team is not the only suitor for Salah from Saudi Arabia.
NEOM FC has a specific interest. The Pitch Prospect understands Christophe Galtier’s side are ready for a move if Salah is actually available and, more importantly, affordable in January.
Al-Qadsiah is also closely monitoring the situation and would be able to self-finance a deal without relying on Sports Ministry funds. They are owned by Aramco and are quickly becoming a major player in the Saudi Pro League.
Saudi Pro League sporting director Michael Emenalo would also play a key role in any deal as he has a close relationship with Salah.
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Senior sports officials in Saudi Arabia view Salah as the league’s poster boy and believe he can help retain a global audience following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, currently set to take place in the summer of 2027.
This would make Salah one of the highest paid players in the league. Taking salary, bonuses and additional earnings into account, he would earn around £175m per season.
Salah and Liverpool could reportedly agree a mutual termination in January, but this was played down by sources who spoke to The Pitch Prospect.
Liverpool are planning to continue with Salah until the summer of 2027 and the all-time top goalscorer would have to present concrete exit plans to the club in order to change the club’s position. Liverpool are unlikely to make any concessions, including waiving a transfer fee.
Al-Ittihad made a £150m offer back in the summer of 2023, including £50m in add-ons, which was rejected by FSG boss Mike Gordon.
And although Liverpool’s valuation is no longer as high two years on, a transfer fee significantly higher than the £45m-plus package that saw Darwin Nunez join Al-Hilal in the summer would be required if the club were to agree to change their stance on Salah by merely terminating his current contract.
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Al-Ittihad have not made a new approach for Salah since 2023 and sources within the club emphasize that they would only consider a new offer for Salah if Karim Benzema departs, as his contract currently expires next year, in the summer as their foreign player quotas are exhausted.
The Jeddah-based team is not considered the top candidate for Salah as they are based on interested Saudi clubs.
Senior figures at several Saudi clubs, speaking to The Pitch Prospect anonymously to protect relations, are currently cautious about whether Salah represents a real market opportunity for January.
Clubs assumed he might be available after the World Cup and must now consider whether to make an ambitious mid-season move.
Two MLS clubs are also worth a look. 2025 expansion club San Diego is leaning towards buying younger players and investing in its own academy, but Egyptian-British owner Mohamed Mansour appears to be tempted by Salah if he shows a willingness to move to America.
Chicago Fire are another potential MLS option. The Fire formally approached Salah before he extended his contract with Liverpool last April and had the funds to complete a transfer that would break the MLS record transfer fee of £20 million that saw Son move to Los Angeles FC.
Mohamed Salah Next Club Odds
Mohamed Salah signs before February 3, 2026:
- Any Saudi club – 4/5
- Any Turkish club – 8/1
- Any MLS club – 12/1
- Bayern Munich – 12/1
- PSG – 16/1
- Barcelona – 16/1
- Real Madrid – 20/1
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