Saudi Clubs Circle Mohamed Salah as Summer Interest Intensifies
Saudi Arabia’s pursuit of global football icons shows no sign of slowing, and once again Mohamed Salah finds himself near the top of their wish list. Alongside Vinicius Jnr, the Egyptian forward has been identified as one of the Saudi Pro League’s prime targets for the upcoming summer window, as the league prepares for another aggressive phase of recruitment.
While initial enquiries have already been made about Salah during the current window, which closes on February 2, The Telegraph reports that there has been “no encouragement” from Liverpool’s side. The expectation, according to senior figures within the SPL, is that any serious move would come later in the year rather than now.
Summer window focus for marquee names
“Very important players will finish their contracts in June 2026 and the league will invest in new stars like Salah,” one senior SPL source said according to the report. “My perception is that if it happens it will be the summer and not now.”
That timing matters. Several high-profile contracts are expiring, including Sadio Mane at Al-Nassr, which could free up both squad space and significant wage capacity. At Al-Ittihad, interest in Salah remains strong, but departures may be required first, with Karim Benzema, Fabinho and N’Golo Kante all potential exits.
Salah’s age, now 33, naturally raises questions about how long he wants to remain at the elite level in Europe. The report also notes that he “almost joined before he signed his new contract at Liverpool last season”, underlining how close this move has come in the past.
Liverpool context and recent return
Salah’s season has been uneven, and the article claims he felt he had been “thrown under the bus” after being dropped during a poor run of form. However, he returned to Liverpool’s starting XI in emphatic fashion with a 3-0 Champions League win over Marseille.
Arne Slot had publicly framed that match as a test of whether there was an “issue” between player and club, and Salah’s performance offered a timely reminder of his ongoing importance. It was his first start in almost two months after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, where Egypt exited at the semi-final stage.
With Vinicius also unsettled at Real Madrid, Saudi officials appear ready to push for both players, setting up a summer of significant intrigue.
Our View – Anfield Index Analysis
From a Liverpool fan perspective, this feels like familiar territory. Saudi interest in Salah has never truly gone away, and each new report brings a mix of anxiety and resignation. On one hand, there is the reality of age, contract cycles and the financial power of the SPL. On the other, there is what Salah still represents on the pitch and symbolically.
The Marseille performance matters here. A 3-0 win away in Europe with Salah back in the XI is not the profile of a player in terminal decline. Even in a disrupted season, his presence still alters how opponents set up and how Liverpool function in big matches. That is not easily replaced.
There is also a sense that framing him as a scapegoat reflects broader issues at Liverpool rather than purely Salah’s form. If structural or tactical problems have contributed to inconsistent performances, then moving on one of the club’s greatest modern players feels like addressing the symptom rather than the cause.
For now, it feels like a summer story rather than a January reality, but history suggests this saga is far from over.
