Saudi Pro League ramps up Salah plans after Arne Slot sidelines Liverpool great
Salah has begun two league matches on the bench, an unusual development for a player who has dominated Liverpool’s attacking output for nearly a decade. Slot has said the winger is “not happy” with recent decisions, but insists the team’s structural balance must come first.
Club captain Virgil van Dijk echoed that sentiment when he remarked that no one in the squad has “unlimited credit,” an early sign of the evolving hierarchy under the new manager.
For readers less familiar with Salah’s status: he is Liverpool’s most prolific modern-era scorer and has rarely been omitted when fit. That increases the significance of recent selections and raises questions inside and outside the club about what comes next.
Saudi plans intersect with Liverpool’s long-term calculations
Liverpool rejected a £150 million bid from Al-Ittihad in 2024, and Salah later acknowledged that those talks with Saudi officials were “serious.” Because he extended his contract until 2027, Liverpool retain leverage, but also face a familiar dilemma: whether to keep a star deep into his deal or consider a major sale before his value recedes.
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Saudi interest, meanwhile, is tied to broader strategy. The league’s initial splash of marquee arrivals in 2023 has slowed, but not stopped. Officials involved in long-term planning still see select high-profile acquisitions as a way to build relevance ahead of the 2034 World Cup, and Salah given his heritage, global reach and durability fits that brief more neatly than almost anyone available.
People familiar with previous discussions suggest that if dialogue restarts, it would likely progress faster than it did last time. “The groundwork is there,” one person said, “but the timing has to be right.” That timing may hinge less on the Saudi side and more on how Salah sees his role evolving under Slot.
A season that may define the next chapter
Five goals in all competitions is a modest return by Salah’s standards, though Liverpool’s tactical adjustment has required sacrifices throughout the front line. Some within the club believe he will reassert himself once the system settles; others acknowledge the next 12–18 months may be the period when difficult decisions are made about future squad planning.
There is no consensus yet. Some analysts argue that Liverpool, aware of their financial model, may eventually need to consider a sale if Salah’s playing time continues to fluctuate. Others counter that a stable run in the team could shut the door on Saudi interest until the final year of his contract.
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Both scenarios remain plausible. Much depends on form, fitness and how Slot intends to configure his forward line through the spring.
Focus turns to international duty
For now, the conversation pauses as Salah joins Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations. His performances there and the discussions that follow with Liverpool staff upon his return will help determine whether this latest round of speculation fades out or gathers momentum heading into 2026.
Source: The Telegraph.
