The Saudi Pro League has reportedly been handed a £17 billion transfer budget over seven years to acquire top football stars – which may leave Liverpool with a difficult decision to make over Mohamed Salah.
Saudi Arabia has already spent significant amounts to lure away some of Europe’s best players this summer.
Roberto Firmino, Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante have all made big money moves, with the wages on offer from Saudi clubs hugely eclipsing their previous salaries.
The league has now turned its attentions to Kylian Mbappe – who is arguably the best player in the world. Al Hilal have had a £259 million bid for Mbappe accepted by PSG.
And while some may expect spending to slow slightly if the signature of the Frenchman is required, it doesn’t appear as if that will be the case.
According to CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs, the Saudi Pro League has £17 billion to spend between now and 2030.
It is claimed that the league also wants to sign Neymar and Luka Modric, with Robert Lewandowski also a target for 2024. However, the Polish striker does not want to move.
With spending set to continue, Liverpool may need to be on red alert.
Liverpool could have Salah decision to make
Saudi Pro League sides have already taken an interest in Liverpool stars, with club captain Jordan Henderson having completed a medical at Al Ettifaq.
Al Ittihad, meanwhile, have been in talks with Fabinho. However, The Athletic’s David Ornstein claims that the move is now in jeopardy.
One Liverpool star that is yet to receive an offer from Saudi Arabia is Mohamed Salah.
Qatar-based outlet Alkass claimed in June that clubs were interested in Salah, but any move away from Anfield this summer remains unlikely.
I’m totally devastated. There’s absolutely no excuse for this. We had everything we needed to make it to next year’s Champions League and we failed. We are Liverpool and qualifying to the competition is the bare minimum. I am sorry but it’s too soon for an uplifting or optimistic… pic.twitter.com/qZmA9WsueM
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) May 25, 2023
For his part, Salah appears to be happy at Liverpool, and took to Twitter at the end of last season to state his drive to push the Reds back to Premier League title contention during the upcoming campaign.
The issue for Liverpool is if Saudi Pro League spending continues every summer.
As one of the world’s elite footballers, it would be no surprise for Saudi clubs to push to attempt to sign the Liverpool forward – particularly as his deal would expire in a year’s time by next summer.
Whether Salah would accept such an approach remains to be seen, and he could decide to extend his contract with Liverpool.
If it comes down to it by the time next summer rolls around, however, the Reds may need to decide whether to sell the Egyptian and profit from a small part of the £17 billion budget – or whether they can successfully convince him to stay at Anfield.
Henderson, 33, is on the verge of completing a move to Saudia Arabian club Al Ittifaq, calling time on a 12-year career with the Reds.
The England international will allegedly see his wages quadruple to an eye-watering £700,000-a-week in the Middle East after being headhunted by Liverpool legend and new Al Ittifaq manager, Steven Gerrard.
Meanwhile, Fabinho has been heavily rumoured with a move to the Saudi Pro League after he was left out of the Reds’s pre-season tour of Germany.
Jurgen Klopp has already signed midfield duo Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai for a combined £95 million this summer.
However, Liverpool are in dire need of further reinforcements and have reportedly identified five possible additions which includes Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni.
draw up five-man transfer shortlist
Jordan Henderson, meanwhile, has agreed terms with fellow Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq, who are managed by Steven Gerrard.
He has agreed terms over a contract worth ‘close to’ £700,000-per-week and completed a medical, although the deal has yet to be officially announced by either club.
