With Arne Slot backing away from initiating talks with Salah after the Egyptian publicly criticized his head coach and Liverpool, a worrying impasse has emerged.
There is a feeling that the number 11 will leave the club if Slot remains in his position, and it has been widely reported that the club intends to back the manager over the player.
And while The AthleticsDavid Ornstein has reiterated that Liverpool do not want to sell Salah. This could be seen as a means to keep values high amid Saudi Arabia’s interest.
Ornstein paraphrases the word of a senior source at the club: “If he wants to leave, he needs to outline how that can happen and Liverpool can then respond.”
Salah wanted by Neom SC: Why it could make sense
Salah will already be aware of the increasing interest from Saudi Arabia and The Athletic’s report names three clubs interested in a deal.
These are Al-Hilal, Al-Qadsiah and, a surprising name in the mix, Neom SC.
Neom SC is playing in the Saudi Pro League for the first time this season and signed Alexandre Lacazette, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Said Benrahma, among others, in the summer.
Although described as being located in a ‘remote region’ of Saudi Arabia, the planned city of Neom is closest to Egypt – 90 kilometers from Sharm El Sheikh across the Gulf of Aqaba – and could be the starting point of a proposed Saudi-Egypt causeway.
Saudi club owner labels Salah ‘toxic’
While a move to a club like Neom would seemingly suit Salah should he decide to leave Liverpool, another Saudi Pro League team has already ruled themselves out.
Ben Harburg, the American owner of Al-Kholood, does reported told the World Football Summit in Riyadh that there is a “toxic combination of factors” surrounding his proposed move to the league.
“He’s 33 years old, he got a boatload of whatever it was about a year ago and has massively underperformed since then,” he said.
“He doesn’t strike me as a great team player. As an owner, when I look at the way he conducted himself there… if a player doesn’t perform, he won’t be in the starting line-up.”
“We don’t put people in the starting lineup based on what they did three seasons ago or even last season.
“All of that creates a fairly toxic combination of factors for me.
“So I’d rather he didn’t come here. I’m sure some people appreciate his star power, he’s from the region, but my feeling is he’s not suitable for our league.
“If it were between him and Vinicius Jr., I would rather take Vinicius.”
Salah could return to Liverpool’s squad for Saturday’s match against Brighton, but the forward has already suggested the Anfield match could be his last for the club.
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