Karim Benzema opens door for Mohamed Salah after Saudi transfer agreed
Karim Benzema’s Al Ittihad exit paves the way for the Saudi Pro League side to make another move for Mohamed Salah this summer.
Salah is known to be on the radar of Al Ittihad, after they had previous approaches rejected by Liverpool, and more space on their wage bill could see the Egyptian legend make the move to the Middle East.
Benzema surprisingly left the Saudi side to join direct rivals Al Hilal last month, while former Premier League star N’Golo Kante also departed to join Fenerbahce.
Salah has often been linked with a Middle East switch, but it remains unclear if he will leave Anfield this summer, with one year left on his contract.
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, those high-profile Al Ittihad departures could well pave the way for the 33-year-old to finally make the move this summer.
Mo Salah could join Al Ittihad after Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante latest
Salah’s bust-up with Arne Slot before the turn of the year sparked widespread rumours of an imminent January exit, but they have repaired their relationship to allow him to stay until this summer at least.
Sources have told Football Insider that the Reds could allow Salah to leave ahead of next season, due to the length of his contract, and Ittihad may now have the funds to approach him over a move.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “He’s in the final 18 months of his contract, come the summer he will just have a year left on this lucrative contract and maybe it could be the right time for a parting of the ways for everybody.
“Al Ittihad are looking to reshape their team. They’ve lost big players in the shape of Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante in the January transfer window.
“So maybe that will allow them to bring in a big name signing, and Salah would definitely take the boxes for them as well.”
- Read more: Exclusive: Aston Villa’s updated stance on Harvey Elliott transfer revealed after Liverpool talks
Aston Villa still have no plans to sign Harvey Elliott permanently
One of Salah’s former teammates who could return to Anfield this summer, Elliott, has certainly not enjoyed his football while out on loan at Aston Villa.
That is because he has barely played any games, with Villa refusing to meet the 10-appearance mark that would see his loan become a £35m obligation to buy.
Unai Emery and the Villa board have held talks with Liverpool over a potential re-negotiation of the clause, but they are still not willing to hand him three more appearances this season as it stands.
Football Insider have also revealed this week that Villa still have no intention of signing Elliott permanently, even for a cut-price fee, so any new deal would have to be a straight loan or include an option to buy him.