Ex-Premier League boss Slaven Bilic claims Mohamed Salah was ready to leave Liverpool for Saudi Arabia before Jurgen Klopp bid farewell to Anfield.
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Heavily linked with move to the Middle EastContract at Anfield continues to run downStill chasing down titles with the Reds in 2025Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Egyptian superstar was heavily linked with a move to the Middle East in the summer of 2023, with big-money bids reportedly being tabled. Said interest rumbled on into 2024, with Salah approaching the final year of his contract at Anfield.
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It was, however, to be Klopp that headed for the exits, as the German tactician bid farewell to Merseyside at the end of the 2023-24 campaign. Salah remains a prolific presence for Liverpool, with the 30-goal mark being reached again this season.
WHAT SLAVEN BILIC SAID
Things could have been very different had he pushed for a switch to the Saudi Pro League, with ex-West Ham manager Bilic – who has spent time in that region working with Al Fateh – telling , via BetMGM and talkSPORT: "There has definitely been a change this season under Arne Slot as, 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. I wasn’t surprised he didn’t move, though. 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.”
GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MOHAMED SALAH?
Salah could be on the move in 2025, as he is yet to sign a contract extension at Liverpool. He is currently in the process of helping the Reds chase down Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup titles, with no official decision being made on his future.
