Reactionary Frenzy?
Sky Sports seemed intent on creating as much frenzy as they could on deadline day of the European transfer window. Essentially, their role is to create agenda, promote propaganda, and entice multiple fanbases to stay glued to their broadcast. There are an awful lot of people who still quote stories from Sky Sports, as notification of fact. Where once they were absolutely the go to source for football gossip, nowadays they are merely a reactionary group who jump onto stories that are already circulating. I imagine there are a raft of youngsters glued to Twitter, with a remit to stay in tune with any breaking news, as the likes of David Ornstein and Henry Winter carry out their actual journalistic duties.
Klopp again on Mo Salah and Al Ittihad: "From my point of view, I see absolutely nothing to worry about. Mo is super committed". 🔴 #LFC
"He's really in training fully there, in the leadership meetings this week, he is fully in. All good, we are here and everything is fine". pic.twitter.com/bADrKLz7BR
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 2, 2023
How Has the Mohamed Salah Saga Evolved…?
The growth of the Saudi Pro League has escalated faster than any entity world football has ever seen. To pitch a fair comparison, they are a group that is trying to establish themselves in the same way that Manchester City and PSG have. Extraordinarily high transfer fees and obscene contracts have been handed out by multiple clubs in the Middle Eastern league, with the level of the name usually outweighing the level of actual performance. Further additions to their ranks and a brighter spotlight shining on their venture has rapidly increased the want to increase their stable of stars.
That agenda eventually led to the €90m capture of Brazilian legend, Neymar. This acquisition came many months after first Cristiano Ronaldo and later Karim Benzema, joined the accelerated Saudi venture. Each of those European stars were evidently set on one last lucrative contract, as both joined their new clubs on expiration (or termination in Ronaldo’s case) of their previous club contracts. Once huge fees started being thrown at players that still had much to offer the elite level football, it was only a matter of time before the rumours of the greatest Arab footballer of all time joining the exodus, became reality. Mohamed Salah would be the definition of the Jewel in the Arabian Crown, one who is sought more than any other player in world football. It appears that now the stocklist of the controversial division is substantially improved, that patience is being ignored, as the most financially rich country on the soccer globe have set their sights on what they desire most.
Is The Egyptian King Likely to Move Before the Saudi Transfer Window Closes…?
Many people do not realise, that despite the Premier League’s ability to sign players is now at a close, Saudi Pro League clubs can still sign assets until September 7th. This creates a very real and potentially dangerous scenario for the reds, as the intent of Al Ittihad has been made abundantly clear. Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kanté are already onboard, whereas their manager (former Wolves head coach Nuno Espírito Santo) is clearly hopeful of adding the Liverpool legend to his squad. Certain clubs appear to have the financial backing of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which is of course the Saudi sovereign wealth fund. I do not see the Reds’ celebrated number 11 leaving before September 7th, however, it now appears that his departure is inevitable. Some may point to next summer as the likely period for his sale, yet, I get the sense that when the 31-year-old departs for the African Cup of a Nations in early January, that that will be the moment when he is unveiled as the world’s most expensive ever transfer.
All eyes now turn to Saudi Arabia and Mo Salah.
Fees increase by the day. Worried about this one. #LFC
As we are all aware in football business money talks.
Let's be honest FSG love money…#LFC #FSGOUT
— KOP Connection (@KOPConnectionTM) September 2, 2023
Why Would It Be Prudent to Sell in January…?
Liverpool Football Club have an opportunity to extract over £200m from the Saudi’s, though that window is rapidly closing. The most important factor is now how best to serve the needs of the club, which means taking the highest fee possible. With the likes of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Michael Olise, Johan Bakayoko, and Bukayo Saka, all potential replacement targets, a huge amount of money could make all those players viable for Liverpool.
