Mohamed Salah: Al Ittihad to make another bid for Liverpool forward before Saudi Pro League window closes
Liverpool rejected a verbal offer for Mohamed Salah worth up to £150m from Al Ittihad on Thursday; Liverpool's position has not changed with the club stating the Egyptian is not for sale
Tuesday 5 September 2023 16:41, UK
Al Ittihad want to make another offer for Mohamed Salah before the Saudi Pro League window closes on Thursday.
Senior figures at the club believe it is worth making one more try to sign Salah but others are advising they should give up until next summer.
Any new offer would need to be approved first by the SPL through interim chief executive Saad Al Lazeez and director of football Michael Emenalo.
Liverpool rejected a verbal offer for Salah worth up to £150m from Al Ittihad on Thursday.
Liverpool's position has not changed - Salah is not for sale.
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Speaking after Sunday's 3-0 won over Aston Villa, Jurgen Klopp said: "I never had any doubts about his commitment to this club. You can't imagine how much fuss the world has made but how calm we are with it. He is our player and he wants to play here."
The SPL window closes at 10pm UK time on Thursday.
Analysis: Could Al Ittihad's wish be granted?
Sky Sports News chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol:
"Liverpool's position is that the player is not for sale and has two years left on his contract. Al Ittihad's position is they made a verbal offer for the player last Thursday of up to £150m, which was rejected.
"They had a big game on Friday night which they lost. After that game and during the weekend, they have held talks over what they should do next.
"Our information is that they want to make another offer for Mo Salah before the Saudi window closes on Thursday.
"Senior figures at Al Ittihad are saying they believe it's worth having one more go to try and get him.
"But there are also very influential voices at the club who are advising them to draw a line under it for now, let's respect Liverpool as they've made it clear he's not for sale, and then try again next summer.
"One other significant point to make is that Al Ittihad cannot act unilaterally. They can't just decide to make an offer, pick up the phone and ring up Liverpool.
"What they would need to do is go through the Saudi Pro League because every offer has to be approved by the league and through their interim chief executive Saad Al Lazeez and director of football Michael Emenalo."
Klopp: No doubt Salah will stay at Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp says he has no doubts over Mohamed Salah's future amid interest from Saudi Arabia after the Liverpool forward scored in their 3-0 home win over Aston Villa.
Salah shrugged off transfer speculation to hit Liverpool's third in the victory as Al Ittihad considered whether to make an improved offer for the 31-year-old after having had a £150m bid rejected by the Reds on Friday.
The Saudi transfer window closes on Thursday but Liverpool's manager is confident Salah will remain at the club despite one source telling Sky Sports News Al Ittihad are prepared to go to £200m to sign the Egypt forward.
Klopp told Sky Sports after the Villa victory: "He played a top game. Mo had to work super hard and he did.
"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."
While Klopp and Liverpool remain adamant Salah is not for sale, Sky Sports News understands the Saudi club are getting encouragement in "certain quarters" a deal can still be done.
While Al Ittihad feel they have that encouragement, they will try again.
Klopp added in his post-match press conference: "I didn't realise a little bit of a distraction in the whole week, besides answering questions about it - not from people inside [the club] but people outside.
"I have no clue, nobody came to me and told me something could happen or whatever. I'm pretty sure I would have got a call but I didn't.
"And Mo didn't look for a second like he thought about anything else other than about Aston Villa, being involved in all the goals.
"He has unbelievable numbers but it's not a surprise that he has the numbers. And he had chances on top of that and [is] involved in creating and setting up and all these kind of things.
"He's a world-class player, no doubt about that and I'm really pleased he is in my team."
Robertson expects Salah to stay at Anfield
Andy Robertson insists the Liverpool players have no concerns about "ultimate professional" Mohamed Salah's immediate future as speculation of a potential world-record bid from Saudi Arabia continues.
He said: "For us we block that out, Mo blocks it out. We let other people talk about that. For us there is no concern. For us Mohamed Salah is a Liverpool player and we believe that is what is going to be the case for the foreseeable future.
"He's the ultimate professional. He does what it does, he is one of the best players in the world and he is professional. He lets other people do the talking, let's other people say what they have to say, but he's always been committed to Liverpool and you saw that with the performance he put in.
"The club's position was that it knocked it back, it rejected the bid and that is what the stance was.
"For me Mo has been Mo all week. He's not been affected; I've been around him a lot and he's not been affected by anything. Mo has reacted in the best way possible and I think you have seen that with his performance, I think he was pretty special."
Szoboszlai: Salah wants to stay
Liverpool new boy Dominik Szoboszlai, who scored his first Reds goal with a fine third-minute opener against Villa, said in his post-match interview that Salah wanted to stay.
"You know it is football, everyone is talking. We are really happy that he has stayed," said the Hungary captain.
"We are of course speaking between each other but he wants to stay, he wants to be here and be with us. We are really happy - we need people in the team like him."
Klopp was asked whether Salah had conveyed that message to him.
"No. He didn't tell me, but he didn't have to. He speaks with his training and performances and behaviour," he added.
"We had meetings this week and the meetings were not about what we did in the past, it was about what we will do in the future.
"Mo was with the players' [leadership] committee and had his moments where he was talking and it was nothing like, 'By the way, this is only until next week' or whatever.
"He is completely here and if Dom said that, fine. Mo doesn't have to come into my office and tell me 'by the way, boss... [I'm not going]'.
"For me it wasn't a subject for one second, to be honest, besides the questions (from the media)."
