Liverpool star Mohamed Salah is seriously interested in al-Ittihad and Reds icon Robbie Fowler is tipping the Egyptian.
Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah. Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah.
Robbie Fowler believes Mohamed Salah should stay at Liverpool, but accepts the Egyptian will join him in Saudi Arabia one day.
Saudi Arabian Pro League champions Al-Ittihad made a £150m bid for the Reds star before the transfer deadline. The Anfield chiefs were quick to reject a verbal offer as Jurgen Klopp’s side have been consistent in their firm stance on the 31-year-old.
Salah was one of the key people on Merseyside for the Germans. After Roberto Firmino left for Real in the summer, the forward is the last remaining player from the formidable trio that included Sadio Mane who helped fire the Reds to European and domestic success.
With two years remaining on his contract, L4 will need the penultimate year to get Liverpool back into the Champions League. The Reds had to settle for Europa League qualification last season, prompting the Egyptian star to apologize to Liverpool fans.
Saudi Arabia’s interest has dominated the conversation this summer, with many stars from Europe following Cristiano Ronaldo to the Middle East. Fowler returned to management when he moved to Saudi Arabia’s second division side Al-Qadsiah.
Despite the closure of the Premier League and the rest of Europe’s transfer window at the beginning of September, Saudi Arabian teams still have until September 7 to register their new signings. That leaves another week of speculation surrounding Liverpool’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Fowler believes Ittihad’s interest will not fade in the coming days and Salah will eventually move back to the area. And the former Reds striker warned that a big fee could be presented within a week. “The amount of money that Liverpool have already turned down is truly mind boggling. But to be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if it doubles before the end of this week,” he wrote in his Mirror column.
“Think what a coup it would be to have him as a Pro League ambassador. He really is a superstar… He is the most famous footballer in the world after Messi and Ronaldo. This is his level.
“I don’t want him to leave. I’m a Liverpool fan at heart, I want the best for my club and I think even £150m might not be enough to pay the owners of Anfield.
“It’s really crazy money for a 31-year-old player. But think how much money they can lose if they sell Salah without the possibility of any replacement. “It could cost well over £150m if they miss out on the top four again and a place in the Champions League – and that’s before you think about what it could cost if they lose sponsorship,” he added.
“Salah is in very good shape – I have never seen a player take better care of himself in all my time in football. He has never been injured and because most footballers suffer from the speed of the game, it is very difficult to replace him. …
“Look at the games he’s played for Liverpool – 308 in six seasons, that’s remarkable. If Mo stays this season, he’ll soon be in Liverpool’s top 50 all-time, which shows how much of a legend he already is at the club …
“You’d lose an all-time great like that. And no amount of money guarantees you’ll find another great of the same generation. It took Liverpool 20 years to replace me when I left in 2001!
“It would be a difficult decision for him and a difficult decision for Liverpool. I know there will be another huge offer and I know it might be difficult for the player and the club to turn it down.”
Salah overtook Fowler in the Anfield record books in Liverpool’s historic 7-0 thrashing of Manchester United last season, and his goal against AFC Bournemouth moved him into fifth place on Steven Gerrard’s all-time list.
He is 42 goals short of surpassing Billy Liddle and Gordon Hodgson, Roger Hunt and Ian Rush complete the list. Fowler believes Salah can play an important role at Liverpool and the possibility of a move to the Saudi Arabian professional league is not going away.
“However, my advice would be to stay at Anfield longer. Mo can help Liverpool get back into the Champions League, he can help them win more titles and trophies – and they are still waiting in Saudi Arabia,” he said.
“He is definitely playing over 36 years, Messi is now and Ronaldo who is 38. And if he continues to score with Liverpool and break all their goalscoring records, he will become an even bigger legend and hero in this part of the world. “If you’re a Liverpool fan like me, it’s going to be a few days in hell, so get ready for something messy this week, Reds.”
