Mohamed Salah: Former Saudi Pro League manager makes huge transfer claim | OneFootball

Former Saudi Pro League manager Slaven Bilic has claimed that Mohamed Salah's move to Al Ittihad "was done" last summer after the Liverpool forward fell out with former manager Jurgen Klopp.

Ultimately, Salah remained on Merseyside, but the speculation surrounding his future hasn't gone anywhere. If anything, the rumour mill has only gathered pace as the forward creeps towards a summer of free agency.

Talks over a new deal for Salah are still ongoing, although not quite as swiftly as the player would like. The demand to give the 32-year-old a contract extension increases with each toppled record. The prolific forward wasn't quite so potent last season - although still racked up 25 goals across all competitions - and notably clashed with Klopp on the sideline during a 2-2 draw with West Ham United at the end of April 2024.

Arne Slot, the German's summer replacement in the Anfield dugout, has done nothing but lavish praise on his talismanic forward. "There has definitely been a change this season under Arne Slot," former Al Fateh coach Bilic told talkSPORT. "Having been in Saudi Arabia last year, I know he wasn't happy under Jurgen Klopp and we were expecting him to move.

"The whole of Saudi was ready for him - and he would have been the star of the league. As far as we were all concerned, it was done and Mo Salah was going to join Al Ittihad."

Mohamed Salah's future is still uncertain / Catherine Steenkeste/GettyImages

The links between Salah and Saudi are nothing new. At the end of August 2023, Al Ittihad fans were spotted watching their side take on Al Riyadh while wearing masks of the Liverpool forward's face.

Despite their repeated failures to snag the Egyptian super star, Bilic was confident that the Saudi Pro League had not given up hope. "I wasn't surprised he didn't move, though," the former West Ham boss noted. "He knows the move is there for him when he wants to leave Liverpool. It's not a one-year take it or leave it project in Saudi."

Al Ittihad are not the only interested suitor. Reigning champions Al Hilal have also been heavily linked, with manager Jorge Jesus publicly stressing his desire to sign Salah as a replacement for the outgoing Neymar.