Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool crisis — Which MLS clubs have the edge to sign the Egyptian star? | OneFootball

Mohamed Salah’s situation at Liverpool has reached a breaking point. After publicly criticizing the club, clashing with manager Arne Slot, and being left out of the Champions League squad for the Inter Milan match, the Egyptian star is now widely viewed as nearing the end of his Anfield chapter. His contract expires in June 2026, Liverpool are open to a sale, and Salah himself has hinted that the Brighton match on December 14 could be his last at home.

This combination — public fallout, contract pressure, and a January window approaching — has reopened a conversation that seemed dormant:

Could Mohamed Salah realistically come to MLS?

And more importantly:

Why are several MLS clubs now watching the situation more closely than ever?

MLS Is Back in the Salah Discussion

For years, MLS was considered a long-term, end-of-career destination for Salah. But everything has changed in the past week. His conflict with Slot, declining minutes, and Liverpool’s willingness to negotiate make his market more flexible — especially for clubs offering stability, superstar treatment, and long-term commercial upside.

Several MLS owners and sporting directors have privately kept tabs on Salah’s status. And three clubs — each for different reasons — stand out as realistic landing spots if Salah decides to shift away from Europe sooner than expected.

1. San Diego FC — The Ambitious, Billionaire-Backed Project

San Diego FC’s profile has changed dramatically after finishing first in the Western Conference in their inaugural season. Owner Mohamed Mansour — Egyptian-British and enormously influential — has never hidden his desire to bring global stars to the project when the time is right.

His recent statement to The Athletic was interpreted as more than a general ambition:

If Salah wants a clean reset, far from the European spotlight but still inside a competitive, growing league, San Diego may be the most deliberate fit.

2. Chicago Fire — A Club That Wants a Global Icon

Chicago has already shown they are willing to swing big.

Owner Joe Mansueto has the spending power and the market to justify such a move. Chicago’s huge Middle Eastern and North African communities make Salah a commercial dream.

If Salah wants a big American city and a legacy-defining move, Chicago becomes a natural contender.

3. Inter Miami — Always in the Conversation

Miami has a designated player slot open after Jordi Alba’s retirement, and the Messi-Busquets pairing has already turned the club into a global brand. A Messi–Salah link-up would be one of the most-watched seasons in league history.

However — and this is key —

Many feel Miami already has a specific DP target lined up.

That does not eliminate them entirely from pursuing Salah, but it places them behind San Diego and Chicago in the “true opportunity” tier.

Why Salah Could Consider MLS Now

The timing is ideal for him, for four reasons:

1. The Liverpool relationship appears beyond repair.

His comments (“I don’t accept this situation”) and his exclusion from the Inter trip suggest a breaking point.

2. His contract allows a free pre-contract negotiation starting January 1.

MLS clubs can legally engage his camp soon.

3. Saudi Arabia remains interested — but not guaranteed.

MLS offers a different appeal: lifestyle, family stability, North American privacy, and a softer media environment.

4. Commercial impact in the U.S. could be enormous.

Salah is a global marketing figure. In MLS, he wouldn’t share the tier with anyone except Messi and Son Heung-min, another recently departed player from the EPL.

Salah leaving Liverpool now feels inevitable — whether January or summer.

And for the first time in years, MLS clubs are not just dreamers in the conversation; they’re actual options.

If Salah wants a fresh environment, star treatment, and a league that would reshape its marketing strategy around him overnight, MLS isn’t just a retirement rumor anymore.

It’s a real possibility — so we will be monitoring closely how the next few weeks at Liverpool will unfold for Mohamed Salah.