Liverpool Eye Future, But Must Address Present | OneFootball

The Mo Salah saga continues. The Pharaoh, as he is affectionately known, is once again under the spotlight for a big summer transfer, our sources tell us.

Liverpool Talisman

Other than Virgil van Dijk, few players epitomize the current Liverpool side like Mohamed Salah. Since his record-breaking signing from AS Roma back in July 2017 for ~$48M (which seems a ridiculously low figure by today’s standards), Salah has produced goals, assists and unrelenting effort for the Reds.

Outside of an injury-shortened 2022-23 and the current season, Salah has played in no fewer than 48 games, often exceeding 50. His seasonal goal tally has never been fewer than 23 across all comps, with his high being 44 in his debut season (pictured below). He holds the record for scoring in a league opener, having done so seven consecutive times. In the COVID-shortened season of 2020-21, he only gathered six assists; otherwise he’s recorded ten or more, and got 23 just last season.

During his tenure, he’s signed three contract extensions. The first was after his breakout debut season (44g/16a), reflecting the club’s acknowledgement of his singular talent and contributions. The second came in 2022 after prolonged and sometimes prickly negotiations. Salah frequently commented his thoughts about the discussion length, but ultimately the three-year deal was signed keeping Salah at Anfield through June 2025.

The Saudi Factor

One factor that did not figure in the summer of 2022 was interest from Saudi Arabian clubs. Of course, all that changed after Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Al Hilal in December 2022. The pursestrings for all four Saudi Pro teams owned by the Public Investment Fund were loosened, and Salah was a prime target.

In 2023, Al Ittihad made a series of eye-watering offers to lure the striker onto their club. An initial bid of $130M (up to $200M with add-ons) was rejected by Liverpool. For Salah personally, the offer came with a 5x wage increase along with merchandise revenue shares, win bonuses and even high-profile ambassador roles. All this was rejected.

A Tumultuous 2025

Salah’s final contract extension in 2025 was a particularly contentious one. Liverpool were wary of giving the ageing player too long, his wage bill was a concern, and Salah once again took to publicly airing his concerns about the negotiations. Of course, the specter of the PIF was always lurking in the background, but on the pitch Salah continued his excellent form with 57 contributions (34g/23a). He signed a two-year deal through June 2027.

The Current Situation

It’s no secret that Salah has not performed well this season, at least by his high standards. He endured three straight matches as an unused substitute, and was dropped for a Champions League game after an explosive interview where he expressed his frustrations. Salah’s comments drew global attention, though his departure for Afcon allowed the tension to ease. Post-tournament, Salah reaffirmed his commitment to Liverpool, thumping the badge after scoring in yesterday’s match against Qarabag (pictured below). 

But Liverpool are looking into the future, and that picture does not include Salah.

We understand the Reds are keeping tabs on Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise, with an eye to make a big offer in the summer window. To afford the silky-smooth yet lethal 24 year old, they’ll need to free up substantial wages, and that means Salah has to go.

Will the club get a $100M+ offer from Al Ittihad? Probably not, but weighing the long-term prospects of Olise make any offer the Saudis pitch one they cannot refuse.