Liverpool s Mohamed Salah during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Aston Villa at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023. AP
The Egyptian superstar is arguably the biggest football name in Arab football, and bringing the 31-year-old to the Saudi Pro League would be their biggest feat yet.
However, they already signed some superstars, including Karim Benzema and Fabinho.
The Saudi Pro League champions are prepared to stop at nothing to persuade Liverpool to sell Salah, especially since they are participating in the upcoming Club World Cup.
The Saudi side have submitted a verbal bid totaling £150 million to Liverpool last Thursday to sign the Egyptian forward, which was turned down by the Reds management.
However, with the clock ticking on the Saudi Arabian transfer window, which closes late on Thursday, reports said that the Saudi side is ready to submit a new mega-money bid that, including add-ons, would be worth £225 million in total, making it a world-record transfer fee if accepted.
Despite the imminent world-record approach, Liverpool are set to reject any offers as they stick by their stance that Salah is not for sale this summer. The Reds cannot replace arguably their most important player since the transfer window closed in Europe on Friday.
However, Ittihad are determined to sign the Egyptian, even if they fail this summer. The British daily newspaper The Telegraph reported that the Saudi giants will not be deterred from signing Salah and will launch further improved bids for the winger in the upcoming transfer windows.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp praised Salah's commitment to the club despite the lavishing Saudi offer. "I never had any doubt about his commitment to this club. You can't imagine how much fuss the world has made but how calm we are with it," Klopp told reporters after the game against Aston Villa.
Moreover, Salah's teammate Dominik Szoboszlai also insisted that the Egyptian forward wants to stay at Anfield. "We are, of course, speaking between each other, but he wants to stay; he wants to be here and be with us,” said Szoboszlai after netting his first goal for the club against Aston Villa.
Since joining Liverpool from Roma in 2017, Salah has been in phenomenal form, amassing an impressive record of 188 goals and 81 assists in 309 games across all competitions. His outstanding performances have earned him a place on the 30-man Ballon d'Or shortlist for 2023, marking his fifth consecutive nomination.
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