SPL director reveals why Salah rejected Liverpool exit

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was linked with a transfer to Saudi Arabia this summer amid talks that a few bumper offers had been made to him. However, he decided to stay at Anfield for at least another season by rejecting advances from the Middle East and it has now emerged why he did so.

Chelsea’s former director of football and the current DOF for the Saudi Pro League, Michael Emenalo, was quizzed by John Obi Mikel and Chris McHardy in a podcast in Riyadh. He was particularly asked about Salah, regarding whom he spilt the beans by revealing that indeed an approach had been made for the African. Emenalo said:

“I think it depends on Mo. The stories that our teams went after him was true, it is true, there was an interest, but just like Osimhen, it’s ok for me to have an interest in signing Mo, but the club have to have an interest in letting him go, and if those things don’t align, you don’t have a deal. Fundamentally, Liverpool didn’t want to sell and what price were we willing to buy at? I didn’t feel the player was ready to come because he felt like he had unfinished business.”

Liverpool would have needed some massive convincing to let go of Salah as they were the first hurdle in the way of the Saudis. The Reds had a tight grip on the Egyptian international, especially keeping in mind that he did not express a desire to pursue a new challenge, especially one where he would be been paid multiple times the amount of salary.

Moreover, the club had no replacement in store for a player as crucial as Salah. For context, he has contributed to over 200 goals and assists at the club in all competitions in seven years and has been their best player in that time span head and shoulders about the rest of his teammates. Not only will he take some replacing, but will also command a big fee in spite of being 32.

Salah’s “unfinished business” reference at Liverpool could be the fact that he wants to attempt landing another Champions League and Premier League to his name, having won both competitions just once apiece, despite coming agonisingly close to winning them time and again in recent years.

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It remains to be seen if Salah joins a Saudi Pro League side in 2025, or prolongs his stay at Anfield by signing another short-term deal. This time, the ball is in his court and Liverpool will have no say apart from offering him their best proposal.