‘They’re in the lead’ – Mohamed Salah’s next club named after Liverpool bombshell
Mo Salah will become the new star of the Saudi Pro League if he departs Liverpool in the January transfer window.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes Al-Hilal are leading the race for the Liverpool forward.
Salah looks to have no future at Liverpool, and is likely to leave the club in the upcoming January window, following his comments towards the club and manager Arne Slot.
Liverpool axed Salah from the squad against Inter, who may have made his last appearance for the Reds after eight years at Anfield.
Mo Salah ‘a huge asset’ for Saudi Arabia
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – thinks Salah could replace Ronaldo as the face of football in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness believes the money will be too much for Salah to turn down.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I think what may have been something behind the timing of this, is that the Saudi Premier League have decided they need to have that big star coming in.
“And that’s what makes sense to me. And there may have been some extra incentive that Salah’s been told, look, you know, this is going to be the contract if you come this year, or it’s going to be lower next year.
“So maybe things are not always as they seem, as we all know, at the high level of football and the money involved. But I do think it’s Saudi all over it. And I think it will be Al-Hilal seems to be the club that’s in the lead, although there could be others that may come in at the last minute.
“He’s a huge asset down there. As I say, for tourism, for all sorts of things as well, the Saudi Premier League need a new face to replace Ronaldo. And Salah is perfectly made for that.”
Liverpool line up Salah replacement
Liverpool would accept between £50million and £75m to sell Salah in January, as the 33-year-old still has 18 months left on his current deal on Merseyside.
Slot could use the funds to sign Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo as a replacement for Salah, who has a £65m release clause in his contract.
Liverpool will face competition for Semenyo, who is wanted by a number of Premier League clubs amid his fine form at Bournemouth.