The transfer storm surrounding Mohamed Salah intensified this week after the head of the Saudi Pro League (SPL) confirmed that the Liverpool star is officially a target for clubs in the kingdom. The comments come amid increasing speculation that the Egyptian icon may be nearing the end of his Anfield journey.
Salah, 33, was notably absent from Liverpool’s squad for their UEFA Champions League trip to Inter Milan on Tuesday. His exclusion follows a dramatic public fallout with head coach Arne Slot, sparked by Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Leeds United. Salah accused the club of a breakdown in communication and claimed he had been “thrown under the bus” during their recent slump in form.
The forward had already been benched for three consecutive matches before being instructed to stay home for the trip to Italy. While Slot dismissed the allegations and insisted the door remains open for Salah, the turbulence has only fuelled talk of a January exit for Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer of all time.
Salah has long been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, and SPL chief executive Omar Mugharbel has now confirmed the interest publicly. Speaking at the World Football Summit in Riyadh, he said Saudi clubs had been alerted and were closely monitoring the situation.
“Mohamed Salah is welcome in the Saudi League,” Mugharbel said. “But negotiations are for the clubs. And yes, he is one of the targets.”
Salah signed an extension last year tying him to Liverpool until June 2027—an effort widely seen as an attempt to fend off suitors such as Al Ittihad, who famously made a £150 million bid in 2023. Even Saudi Arabia’s sports minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, expressed interest earlier this year, saying the SPL “would love to have” the Egyptian superstar.
Despite his legendary contribution—including last season’s Premier League Golden Boot—Salah’s recent form has dipped, with only five goals in his past 20 appearances. This has prompted debate within Saudi football circles about whether he remains the right marquee profile for the league’s ambitious growth plans.
One dissenting voice is Ben Harburg, chairman of Al Kholood and the SPL’s first foreign club owner. Speaking at the same summit, Harburg said Salah would be “a bad fit” for the league and suggested Vinicius Jr would be a more strategic signing.
“There’s apprehension among the public because the league approached him before and he rejected it,” Harburg said. “People here don’t like being spurned. He has star power, yes, but he’s not the right fit. Between him and Vinicius, I’d choose Vinicius.”
He added that the league should target rising young superstars rather than players nearing the end of their careers.
Amid the mounting drama, one thing is clear: Saudi Arabia is watching the Salah saga closely—and the January window may bring one of the most significant transfer battles the Gulf has seen.
