After snatching Fabinho away from Liverpool, the Saudi Pro League giants Al-Ittihad shifted their focus to Mohamed Salah. They officially made a £185m bid for the Egyptian winger in the late summer transfer window. However, Liverpool turned down the huge offer.
Liverpool having lost two of their key players in midfield to Saudi clubs this summer including Fabinho’s move to Al-Ittihad and Jordan Henderson to Al-Ettifaq, could not afford to lose Salah. The Reds undoubtedly were not in favour of letting go of their best player Mohamed Salah without a replacement.
Jurgen Klopp affected Mohamed Salah’s stay at Anfield
The 31-year-old Egyptian international joined Liverpool in 2017 from the Italian club AS Roma for a transfer fee of ₤43m. Salah is one of the most decorated wingers in the world. For Liverpool, he has made 310 appearances and netted 188 goals with 83 assists to his name.
Mo Salah is also Liverpool’s all-time top scorer in the Premier League, with a total of 138 goals, making him an absolute legend for the Reds. Salah has been a key figure in Klopp’s squad, helping them win multiple trophies, including the league title in 2020 ending the infamous 30-year drought. He secured the Golden Boot award by scoring 22 goals in that particular season.
Despite strong rumors of Salah moving to Saudi Arabia earlier this month, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was reluctant and insisted that his player isn’t going anywhere, denying all the reports of Salah leaving.
He stated, “I’ve never had, and I don’t have now, doubts about his future, his commitment to this club”.
“Believe me, you can’t imagine how much fuss the whole world makes and how calm we are with it. He’s our player, he wants to play here and that’s it.”, Klopp further added.
However, now it has been revealed that Salah was ready to join the Saudi Pro League, but it was Liverpool who turned down the move. And of course, it was none other than Jurgen Klopp who played a crucial role in restricting the transfer.
Al-Ittihad’s lucrative offer to sign Salah
Saudi clubs super actively lured in players from the top European clubs this season. Al-Ittihad were determined to bring EPL’s best player with their lucrative offer to the Middle East this summer transfer window. However, this particular deal broke down since Liverpool refused to listen to any offers for Salah and labeled the player as untouchable.
The West Ham striker, Michael Antonio claimed on a Podcast that Salah hadn’t turned down the offer. In fact, the Egyptian wanted to go but the club thought otherwise.
“He didn’t turn that down, no way. He was locked up and the Reds had put that red arrow across: ‘You are not going anywhere’. He did not stop that at all. To be fair to him, he didn’t kick up a fuss and let them do what they were doing. But I know for a fact that he was ready to go.”
Salah has started all the league games this season for the Reds and remains a pivotal player at Anfield for the German boss. He still has two years left on his contract, as he recently signed an extension last summer to keep him at the club until 2025.
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