01 September 2023 , 15:03
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It is the news Liverpool fans have been fearing all summer long - a huge bid from Saudi Arabia for star striker Mo Salah.
Amid mounting speculation, Al-Ittihad have finally submitted an offer for the 'Egyptian King' with the Premier League club swiftly rejecting the bid. The offer was made verbally via telephone call, but was met with an immediate rebuttal by club bosses who have since tried to declare the matter closed.
Boss Jurgen Klopp has insisted this week that Salah is not for sale, although has also admitted to being concerned over the Saudi transfer window closing after the English version shuts. It means that Salah, 31, could still leave the club beyond Friday's 11pm transfer deadline.
And a report in the Athletic has outlined the eye-watering numbers involved. The proposal included an initial £100 million fee, with the deal potentially rising to £150 million with add-ons. Salah himself was set to earn a mammoth £62 million-a-year over three years, surpassing the money currently being paid to Cristiano Ronaldo.
And the Saudi side responded to the rejection by signalling their intent to come back in for Salah. According to widespread reports, a second bid in the region of £175 million is imminent, and likely to severely test Liverpool's resolve.
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Al-Ittihad are currently top of the Saudi Pro League, having taken 12 points from 12 so far. And they've already raided the Premier League this summer to sign N'Golo Kante and Salah's former teammate Fabinho, and also secured the signature of Real Madrid star Karim Benzema.
The player himself reported for training as normal at Kirkby on Friday, and was all smiles as he was greeted by fans. The scenes suggested there was no tension between Salah and the club over the bid, with the forward having remained tight-lipped on the saga so far.
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Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool have insisted Salah isn't for saleOnly 12 months ago, Salah put pen to paper on a new contract worth around £350,000-a-week. It made him the club's highest paid player and seemingly tied him to the Reds until 2025.
Prior to news of the bid emerging, Klopp had insisted to reporters that the club's stance over keeping Salah hadn't changed: "The position remains the same absolutely," he said, ahead of a Premier League clash with Aston Villa on Sunday. "That's how it is. Nothing else to say. No offer as far as I know."
Regardless of the noise around Salah, the German boss is bringing in one more player before Friday's deadline. A deal has been agreed for Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, with the Dutch international having already completed a medical on Merseyside.