Mohamed Salah transfer approach confirmed by Saudi sporting director - 'It is true'

Saudi Pro League sporting director Michael Emenalo has confirmed an approach was made for Mohamed Salah last year , but has explained why he felt the time wasn’t right for the Liverpool star.

Salah has been consistently linked with a move to Saudi Arabia for over 12 months now, with Liverpool forced to bat away interest during the summer transfer window of 2023. Al-Ittihad had a $195m (£150m/€180m) offer turned down by the Reds , with the Egyptian ultimately staying put at Anfield.

The links to the Middle East have not disappeared though, and with Salah in the final year of his contract at Liverpool, the 32-year-old is being touted to join the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo , Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino in the Pro League next summer.

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Appearing on the Obi One Podcast , Emenalo was asked what the chances of Salah moving to Saudi Arabia were, to which he replied: “I think it depends on Mo.

“The stories that our teams went after him was true, it is true, there was an interest, but just like [Victor] Osimhen, it’s ok for me to have an interest in signing Mo, but the club have to have an interest in letting him go, and if those things don’t align, you don’t have a deal.

“Fundamentally, Liverpool didn’t want to sell and what price were we willing to buy at? I didn’t feel the player was ready to come because he felt like he had unfinished business.”

Salah will be able to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club in January unless he signs a new deal at Liverpool, which may open the door for Emenalo and the Pro League to make another approach.

Previous reports have indicated that Salah is ‘desperate’ to extend his stay at Anfield , although speaking after the win over Manchester United last month, the winger did hint that his time on Merseyside may be drawing to a close .

"Honestly I had a good summer, I had a long time to stay with myself and try to think positive. As you know it's my last year in the club,” Salah said.

"I just want to enjoy it and not think about it. I feel I'm free to play football and we'll see what will happen next year.

"I was coming to the game, I said look, it could be the last time [coming to Old Trafford]. Nobody talked to me yet about contracts, so I just play my last season, and we'll see at the end of the season. But so far, yeah, my last game here with Liverpool."