Al Hilal are ready to offer Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah a lucrative contract if he wants to leave Europe and play in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi champions are looking for a high-profile signing to replace Neymar.
Neymar’s contract runs out at the end of this season and Al Hilal can offer to make Salah one of the star names at the expanded Club World Cup in the USA in June and July.
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As Salah’s future at Liverpool remains unclear, check out some of his best goals and assists so far this season
Salah will be a free agent this summer and he has been free to talk to foreign clubs since the start of this month.
Liverpool rejected a £150m offer for Salah from Al Ittihad in August 2023.
One of the most powerful figures in Saudi sport, Turki Alalshikh, posted a mocked-up picture on Facebook on Wednesday of Salah in an Al Hilal shirt.
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Salah reacts on X to comments made by Jamie Carragher on Monday Night Football regarding the Liverpool forward’s contract situation – with the Sky Sports pundit also responding to the Egyptian
Alalshikh is the chair of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority and is close to the Kingdom’s de-facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Alalshikh has masterminded Saudi Arabia’s huge investment in boxing but he is also known to have links with Al Hilal.
Salah, who will be 33 in June, believes he is still at his peak and can continue to play at the highest level in Europe.
‘Saudis will make Salah move happen if he wants it’
Sky Sports News’ chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol:
“When it comes to Salah and Saudi Arabia, it’s a case of once bitten, twice shy. The Saudis tried 18 months ago to sign Salah.
“Al Ittihad made a bid that was supposed to be worth up to £150m but that was rejected and Salah decided to stay at Liverpool. They’ve always been very careful since then about making another move for Salah.
“What we’ve consistently been told is if Salah wants to go to Saudi Arabia, his representatives need to get in touch and they will make it happen. They would love to have Salah playing in the Saudi Pro League.
“Al Hilal, who are the champions and biggest club at the moment, have Neymar who is out of contract at the end of the season. They’re looking for a replacement. His time there hasn’t gone to plan. But they would only make a move if Salah feels now is the time to leave Europe.”
Salah earlier in January: It’s my last six months – there’s no progress
Speaking to Sky Sports after his player-of-the-match display in Liverpool’s 5-0 thrashing of West Ham on December 29, Salah said he was still “far away” from agreeing a new contract with Liverpool – and he reiterated the same thing in an interview earlier this month.
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Salah continued to cast doubt on his future at Liverpool, saying he expects it to be his last year at Anfield in an interview with Sky Sports’ Patrick Davison
When asked if he really believes this is his last season at the club, he told Sky Sports‘ Patrick Davison: “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.”
When asked how he has kept his focus, he replied: “The thing in my head is that if this is the last six months, what do you want to see in the future?
“Do you want to look back and say ‘I was concerned or stressed about the contract?’ Or do you just want to say ‘I had an unbelievable season?’ That’s what is in my head.
“If I ever feel distraction, I just remind myself I want to look back and say I had an unbelievable season. That’s what I want to do.”
Slot in December: I don’t talk about contract situations in press conferences
Liverpool manager Arne Slot:
“In general, I don’t talk about contract situations here. It would be a surprise if I was the one to announce that one of them has extended.
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Arne Slot says he steers clear of social media and headlines around his Liverpool players’ contracts and performances
“Keep asking, that’s your job, but you’re probably not going to get an answer from me.
“It’s clear that from January 1, maybe for you guys, things change a lot, but they are in constant talks with the club and let’s wait and see what happens.
“As long as they keep performing like this, the head coach is happy.”
Klopp: I hope Salah, Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk all stay
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Ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he hopes Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk stay at Liverpool amid contract discussions and would take them at Red Bull
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp:
“I’m so happy they’re doing well, I’m in contact with Arne [Slot] and some players texting. There’s 0.1 per cent thinking I should still be there as they are doing so well.
“I am watching as many games as I can as it is such good football, maybe the best-balanced team in the world right now.
“I am so happy I am not in charge right now to answer these questions and from my point of view, I hope all three extend, but they did not tell me.”
No Real Madrid agreement for Alexander-Arnold
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David Lynch and Mo Stewart join Melissa Reddy to discuss Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah’s contract situations at Liverpool.
Latest from Sky Sports News’ Vinny O’Connor:
Trent Alexander-Arnold is another Liverpool star approaching the end of his contract and despite reports from Spain claiming an agreement had been reached with Real Madrid, Sky Sports News understands the defender has not verbally agreed a pre-contract to join the LaLiga giants at the end of the season.
The Reds turned down an approach from Madrid just before the window opened but like Salah, Alexander-Arnold is free to negotiate with foreign clubs after entering the final six months of his deal.
