Liverpool have reportedly rejected a nine-figure transfer offer from the Saudi Pro League for Mo Salah.
David Ornstein shared the news for The Athletic on Friday lunchtime, reporting that ‘the proposal, worth in excess of £100million plus substantial add-ons, was given no consideration and turned down immediately’.
While the Reds have reiterated that the Egyptian isn’t for sale and ‘consider the case closed’, the Saudis have a differing view and ‘are expected to maintain a strong interest’.
Sharing a link to the article via Twitter/X, the journalist outlined: “Liverpool reject verbal bid worth more than £100m + substantial add-ons from Saudi Pro League to sign Mohamed Salah for Al Ittihad. Proposal made on amicable call to Mike Gordon last night. #LFC view as case closed, #SPL do not.”
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool reject verbal bid worth more than £100m + substantial add-ons from Saudi Pro League to sign Mohamed Salah for Al Ittihad. Proposal made on amicable call to Mike Gordon last night. #LFC view as case closed, #SPL do not @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/lHbEJ3yLGZ
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) September 1, 2023
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This has been the most significant development yet in Saudi Arabia’s ongoing pursuit of Salah, but thankfully Liverpool have been firm in telling them where to go with their first offer.
Frankly, a bid of an initial £100m is an insult for a player of the Egyptian’s world-class quality in today’s market; and even with the add-ons seemingly bringing the overall fee to a potential £150m (Sky Sports), the Reds are quite right to feel he’s worth much more than that.
It doesn’t help that the Saudi Pro League’s transfer window continues for another few days while the Premier League one closes tonight, so the Anfield hierarchy need to be just as forthright in rejecting any advances for the 31-year-old seeing as they won’t be able to bring in a replacement.
The verbal bid shows that the powerbrokers from the Middle East are serious in trying to lure Salah to Al-Ittihad, but let’s hope Liverpool don’t cave into the enormous riches on offer. They simply can’t afford to cash in on the Egypt legend, no matter how much money is thrown in their direction.
#Ep88 of The Empire of the Kop Podcast: EOTK Insider with Neil Jones🎙️
I have a verbal offer to the Saudis. Go sleep with your camels and may a 1000 fleas of those camels infest your pubic areas. If you were serious, why not make that offer 2 months ago!!!! Bunch of oxygen thieves.
The key aspect of this is surely has he said he wants to go?
If he does – then let him go and cash in.
No point in trying to hold him to his contract and trying to force him to stay.
Personally hope he does choose to leave.
Lots of firepower remaining and the funds will allow a couple more top players of a younger vintage to be bought.
Doak and Elliott will step straight into that right wing slot.
Do it Liverpool- provided Mo asks for the move.
If he has asked to go dig ur heels in and get 150 cash plus add ons
Liverpool will live to regret this decision. Salah is not the player frm a couple of years back. He is in the twighlight of his career. The club’s 1st mistake was to offer him a huge new contract 2 years back. This is the opportunity to rectify that mustake but it seems history is about to repeat itself.
Rebuffing £150m & £350k/w is ludicrous.