Saudi club set target Mohamed Salah transfer date so Liverpool star can play in Club World Cup against Lionel Messi

11/04/2024 09:26 AM

Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal want to sign Mohamed Salah ahead of the Club World Cup, talkSPORT understands.

‘The Egyptian King’ struck fear into Liverpool‘s fan base during what should have been a weekend of euphoria as the Reds went top of the Premier League.

After scoring the winning goal in Arne Slot’s side’s 2-1 win over Brighton, he wrote a cryptic post on Instagram, with some Liverpool fans thinking he was suggesting an Anfield exit was looming.

Now, talkSPORT’s Saudi football correspondent Ben Jacobs has revealed an interested party is swarming, and they want Salah to sign before the FIFA Club World Cup next summer.

Speaking on White and Jordan on Monday, Jacobs said: “2025 is the target. Al Hilal is the club.

“The Saudi football federation will be taking FIFA up on this so-called exceptional window ahead of the Club World Cup.

“So they could in theory try and sign Salah between June 1 and 10, which means they’re looking at him for not just the Saudi Pro League but for the Club World Cup.”

Salah – whose current Liverpool contract expires in June – has been the subject of Saudi interest previously.

Liverpool rejected an enormous £150million bid for the winger from Al Ittihad in September 2023.

Al Hilal were also keen at the time.

talkSPORT reported in April that the Reds were bracing themselves for another offer, but no deal materialised over the summer.

Fast forward seven months, though, and Jacobs says Al Hilal still haven’t given up on their pursuit.

“All signs are Saudi are going to come back in and if Salah is a free agent then naturally he can get a bigger sign-on fee,” he said.

“Liverpool want him to renew, Saudi are pushing hard. [Saudi Pro League sporting director] Michael Emenalo, who has a good relationship with Mo Salah, is leading the drive.

“So the only thing that’s really changed is the club from Al Ittihad to Al Hilal and the expectation is that Saudi will make a big push.”

Jacobs then added: “Another expectation is that the TV rights will change to country-specific in certain territories.

“One of those territories is Egypt, so as a result, if Salah joins, this is also about a return on investment because Egypt will have specific country rights.

“And with Salah there, you would expect the Saudi Pro League to be able to bring in a relatively lucrative deal.

“So Salah to Saudi remains on the cards and Al Hilal is the most likely destination with the Club World Cup in mind.”

Should Salah play the Club World Cup, he will go up against Lionel Messi.

The eight-time Ballon d’Ors winner is set to compete in the competition with David Beckham’s Inter Miami.

Salah will also play alongside Neymar and ex-Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic at Al Hilal, with a number of big name stars making the switch since Cristiano Ronaldo’s shock switch to Al Nassr in 2022.

The Egyptian has played for Liverpool since 2017 when he signed from Roma for an initial £36.5m fee that could rise to £43m.

He won the Club World Cup with the Reds in 2020, as well as the Champions League and the Premier League amongst other honours.

The former Chelsea forward has made 364 appearances for Liverpool, netting 220 goals and grabbing 96 assists, writing himself into Anfield legend in the process.

Salah bagged his side’s winner on Saturday as Liverpool came back from Brighton’s Ferdi Kadioglu’s early goal.

Cody Gakpo equalised in the 70th minute, before Salah stunned the Seagulls and doubled his side’s advantage just two minutes later.

Manchester City’s loss to Bournemouth leaves the Reds top of the table with a two point lead over second place City.