Michael Emenalo, the director of football for the Saudi Pro League, has asserted that Al-Ittihad remains committed to their pursuit of Mohamed Salah from Liverpool. Al-Ittihad, the reigning champions of the Saudi Pro League, had a strong desire to acquire Salah during the recent summer transfer window. They reportedly submitted an initial bid of £150 million ($189 million), which was rebuffed by Liverpool. Subsequently, The Sun reported that Al-Ittihad intended to present another offer, starting at £170 million ($214 million) and potentially reaching £215 million when factoring in various add-ons. Their proposal also included a remarkable weekly wage offer of £2.45 million ($3 million) for the player.
Although the Saudi club was unable to secure Salah’s services before the closure of the English transfer window, Emenalo, the Pro League’s director of football, has now revealed that Al-Ittihad will persist in their efforts to bring the Egyptian forward to their team in the future.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Emenalo stated, “First and foremost, Mohamed Salah is one of the best players on the planet. I’ve said before, privately and publicly, that we welcome anybody who wants to come to the SPL, and that includes Salah. But we have to conduct ourselves in a highly professional and respectful manner. That’s what we’re here for; it’s what the SPL has been refined to do – promote professionalism, respect, efficiency, and handle matters competently. If it didn’t materialize, it’s not because we lost interest in the player or had issues with Liverpool. It’s because certain factors necessary for all parties involved in the process to align simply didn’t align. No one harbors ill feelings; we move forward. However, we are not closing any doors, and if the opportunity arises to conduct proceedings in a manner that brings Mohamed Salah to the Saudi Pro League, we would all be immensely grateful.”
In the broader context, Salah signed a contract extension last summer that binds him to Liverpool until 2025, and thus far, the Premier League club has displayed no inclination to part ways with their star player prior to the conclusion of his contract.