Al-Ittihad will pay £200million for Mohamed Salah from Liverpool.
The Saudi Pro League team will keep trying to sign Salah until September 7 despite Liverpool’s £150m rejection.
Mail Sport claimed earlier this week that the Saudis want Salah to represent the new initiative and are willing to shatter the £198million Paris St. Germain paid Barcelona for Neymar in 2017. Liverpool’s resistance and Jurgen Klopp’s desire to maintain his talismanic forward persist.
Negotiations have been continuing for months but have accelerated in recent days with Saudi pro League leaders in Cannes, France.
Liverpool director Mike Gordon rejected offers on Thursday night, and today they reiterated the 31-year-old is not for sale and the matter is concluded.
Salah, a Liverpool leader who scored 30 goals in all competitions last season, signed a three-year deal last summer, becoming him the club’s highest-paid player.
Klopp is concerned about player pay and the Saudi window being open longer to distract players.
Liverpool knows Salah’s immediate sports goal may be overshadowed by finances.
Liverpool have been contacting agencies to find a replacement for such a talented player, but finding the right person is tough.
The teams have maintained that Salah’s significance to Jurgen Klopp’s side and the late transfer window would reject any proposals for the 31-year-old.
Liverpool is concerned that the European transfer window ends on Friday, September 1 at 11pm, but the Saudi market stays open until September 7.
The Reds have considered substitutes for Salah in the previous 48 hours, but nothing has been finalized.
Salah’s prominence as the world’s largest Arab athlete fuels Saudi Arabia’s chase, with Al-Ittihad ready to press until Friday’s last hour.
Chief Football Reporter Mokbel said on Mail Sport’s It’s All Kicking Off Transfer Show that Salah won’t be sold, but the club is considering options if they must.
Ideally, they won’t sell him. Mokbel says Jurgen Klopp won’t sell him.
But my knowledge is that they were maybe maneuvering to strike for forwards who may be available in the market if Mo Salah leaves.
As much as they want him, he may leave for Saudi Arabia.
