Mo Salah Contract News: Al Hilal Line Up Liverpool Striker For Transfer As Neymar Replacement | Football news
Al Hilal are ready to offer Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah a lucrative contract if he wants to leave Europe and play in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi champions are in the hunt for a high-profile signing to replace Neymar.
Neymar’s contract expires at the end of this season and Al Hilal can bid to make Salah one of the star names at the expanded Club World Cup in the USA in June and July.
Salah will be a free agent this summer, and from the beginning of this month he can talk freely with foreign clubs.
Liverpool rejected a £150m bid from Al-Ittihad for Salah in August 2023.
One of the most powerful figures in Saudi sports, Turki Alalshikh, posted a fake picture of Salah in an Al Hilal shirt on Facebook yesterday.
Alalshikh is the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority and is close to the kingdom’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Alalshikh is the mastermind behind Saudi Arabia’s massive investment in boxing, but is also known to have ties to Al Hilal.
Salah, who will turn 33 in June, believes he is still at his peak and can continue to play at the highest level in Europe.
‘The Saudis will make Salah move if he wants to’
Sky Sports News Chief Reporter Kaveh Solhekol:
“When it comes to Salah and Saudi Arabia, it’s a case of once bitten, twice shy. The Saudis tried to sign Salah 18 months ago.
“Al-Ittihad made a bid that was supposed to be worth up to £150m but it was rejected and Salah decided to stay at Liverpool. Since then they have always been very cautious when it comes to Salah’s moves.
“What we have been told over and over is that if Salah wants to go to Saudi Arabia, his representatives have to get in touch and they will do it. They would like Salah to play in the Saudi Pro League.
“Al Hilal, who are the champions and the biggest club at the moment, have Neymar who is out of contract at the end of the season. They are looking for a replacement. His time there has not gone to plan. But they would only make a move if Salah feels it is now time to leave Europe.”
Salah earlier in January: Last six months – no progress
Speaking with Sky Sports after his man-of-the-match performance in Liverpool’s 5-0 thrashing of West Ham on December 29, Salah said he was still “a long way off” from agreeing a new contract with Liverpool – and reiterated the same point in an interview earlier this month
When asked if he really believes that this is his last season at the club, he said Sky Sports‘ Patrick Davidson: “So far, yes. That’s the last six months. There’s no progress there. We’re a long way from any progress. So we just have to wait and see.”
When asked how he stays focused, he replied: “The thing in my head is if this is the last six months, what do you want to see in the future?
“Do you want to look back and say ‘I was worried or stressed about the contract?’ Or do you just want to say ‘I had an amazing season?’ That’s in my head.
“If I ever feel distracted, I just remind myself that I want to look back and say I had an amazing season. That’s what I want to do.”
Klopp: I hope Salah, Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk stay
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp:
“I am so happy that they are doing well, I am in contact with Arne [Slot] and some players send messages. There is a 0.1% who think I should still be there because they are doing so well.
“I watch as many games as possible because it’s such good football, maybe the best balanced team in the world right now.
“I’m so happy that I’m not in charge of answering these questions right now and from my point of view, I’m hoping that all three will be extended, but they haven’t told me.”
