03 September 2023 , 12:55
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Liverpool would be wise to accept Al-Ittihad’s eye-popping £150million bid for Mohamed Salah, according to Danny Murphy.
The Reds rejected an opening offer from the Saudi Arabian side for Salah earlier this week. Jurgen Klopp has stuck to his stance that Salah is not for sale at any price, but Al-Ittihad are not backing off, with the Saudi Pro League transfer window open until September 7.
As Mirror Football reported, owners Fenway Sports Group believe that selling a 31-year-old player for a world record fee would represent good business. The club are braced for another bid from Al-Ittihad and, while the thought of losing Salah without buying a replacement is troubling, Murphy thinks it is the best thing in the long term.
“If he does leave, Liverpool will be worse off,” the ex-Reds midfielder wrote for the Daily Mail. “They can kiss goodbye to the Premier League title because they won’t surpass Man City without him. It’s hard enough to compete with City even with Salah running down the wing.
“And yet from a business point of view, it makes sense to take the money. £150million for a player with less than two years left on his contract. If Salah wants to go, I’d take it. What incredible funds to invest in January or next season. There’s a bigger picture to see.
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“Even if it means Liverpool can’t win the title this season, I still think they can finish in the top four without Salah.
Al-Ittihad are still attempting to sign Liverpool's Mo Salah (Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Liverpool sell Mohamed Salah? Comment below.
“Klopp will be disappointed if Salah leaves. He’s human, he has known Mo for a long time and he won’t want to keep a player against his will. And now he won’t have a chance to replace him. But he also has a group of young, creative players who will only get better with more game-time.”
Murphy’s opinion is shared by Jamie Carragher, who feels that an offer of £200m would simply be too good to reject, even if it means they can’t sign a replacement immediately.
"He wouldn't be worth £150m without the Saudi market, probably closer to £100m,” he said on Sky Sports. “But why have they left it so late? If they wanted him so badly, and they were prepared to spend the money, why didn't they do it six months ago when they might have got him?
"It is up to Liverpool and it is up to Salah, he may not want to go. I think even for supporters who love him and don't want him to move, if that number keeps going up and up, there is a stage where they can't turn it down, and that would be £200m."