Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal Eyes Mohamed Salah as Neymar Replacement

LIVERPOOL, England — Mohamed Salah, Liverpool‘s star forward, is at the center of a potential blockbuster move to Saudi Arabia as his contract with the Premier League club enters its final six months. Al Hilal, the reigning Saudi Pro League champions, are reportedly preparing a lucrative offer to lure the 32-year-old Egyptian international to replace Neymar, whose contract expires this summer.

Salah, who has scored 21 goals and provided 17 assists this season, has been free to negotiate with foreign clubs since January 1. Al Hilal’s interest comes after Liverpool rejected a £150 million bid from Al Ittihad in August 2023. Turki Alalshikh, a prominent figure in Saudi sports and chair of the General Entertainment Authority, recently fueled speculation by posting a mocked-up image of Salah in an Al Hilal shirt on social media.

“When it comes to Salah and Saudi Arabia, it’s a case of once bitten, twice shy,” said Sky Sports News’ chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol. “The Saudis tried 18 months ago to sign Salah, but Liverpool rejected the offer. They would love to have Salah playing in the Saudi Pro League, but they are waiting for his representatives to make the first move.”

Salah has publicly acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his future at Liverpool. In a recent interview with Sky Sports, he stated, “So far, yes, it’s the last six months. There is no progress there. We are far away from any progress. So, we just need to wait and see.” Despite the speculation, Salah remains focused on delivering a strong finish to the season, saying, “If I ever feel distraction, I just remind myself I want to look back and say I had an unbelievable season.”

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has remained tight-lipped about contract negotiations, emphasizing that the club is in constant talks with Salah and other players. “As long as they keep performing like this, the head coach is happy,” Slot said.

Meanwhile, Al Hilal’s pursuit of Salah is part of their broader strategy to secure high-profile signings for the expanded Club World Cup in the USA this summer. Neymar’s departure at the end of the season has left a void that the Saudi champions are eager to fill with a marquee name like Salah.

In addition to Salah’s situation, Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is also approaching the end of his contract. Despite reports linking him to Real Madrid, Sky Sports News understands that no agreement has been reached. Alexander-Arnold, like Salah, is free to negotiate with foreign clubs.

As the transfer saga unfolds, Salah’s future remains one of the most closely watched stories in world football, with Al Hilal poised to make a significant move to secure his services.