Saudi Arabia Signals Major Push to Sign Unsettled Mohamed Salah in January Transfer Window

Saudi Arabia is preparing to make a significant move for Liverpool star Mohamed Salah during the upcoming winter transfer window, with a senior source inside the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) saying the country will do “whatever it can” to bring the Egyptian forward to the Saudi Pro League.

Speaking anonymously to AFP on Tuesday, the PIF source confirmed that Saudi officials are closely monitoring Salah’s increasingly strained relationship with Liverpool. “We follow Salah’s position thoroughly and believe there can be a move either by loan or buying his contract. There are still no direct negotiations or talks with the club at the moment, but there will be a move at the right moment,” the source said.

Saudi Arabia intends to make Salah one of the marquee signings of its rapidly growing league, where global superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, N’Golo Kanté and Salah’s former Liverpool teammate Darwin Núñez currently play. The kingdom hopes to add the Arab world’s biggest football icon to the roster in January.

PIF owns a 75 percent stake in four of the league’s most powerful clubs — Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr, Al-Ahli and Al-Ittihad — but enthusiasm for signing Salah extends beyond PIF-backed teams. The source revealed that Al Qadsiah, controlled by Saudi oil giant Aramco, has also expressed interest. “There is a competition inside the Saudi league who will bring Salah,” the official said. “Aramco’s Al Qadsiah has shown an interest, too. So it’s not only the PIF-affiliated clubs.”

The 33-year-old winger has been at the centre of rising tension at Liverpool after expressing frustration following Sunday’s 3-3 draw with Leeds. Left on the bench throughout the match, Salah said he felt “thrown under the bus” and admitted he no longer had a relationship with manager Arne Slot. The situation escalated when he was dropped from the squad for Tuesday’s Champions League tie against Inter Milan.

Salah — one of Liverpool’s greatest-ever players — has been instrumental in winning two Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy during his time at Anfield. He signed a contract extension in April, but his form has dipped this season amid Liverpool’s wider struggles. The reigning champions sit 10th in the Premier League table, with Salah contributing just four goals in 13 appearances after scoring an impressive 29 goals with 18 assists last season.

The Egyptian captain is due to join his national team for the Africa Cup of Nations after Liverpool’s home match against Brighton next weekend. He has hinted that the game could be his final appearance for the Reds before the January window opens.

The PIF source insisted Salah still has much to offer and would be a transformative figure in Saudi football. “All players have their ups and downs. Salah is just 33 and has a lot to do here,” the official said. “Salah is a beloved footballer around the globe and will have a massive impact on the Saudi League both on and off the pitch.”

With tensions mounting at Liverpool and Saudi interest intensifying, the January transfer window could mark a decisive turning point in Salah’s storied career.