Liverpool

BAD NEWS:As Liverpool player set to leave this summer

Published

1 year ago

August 28, 2023

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Mohamed Salah would ‘do Liverpool dirty’ by leaving for Saudi Arabia – and it would be ‘scandalous’ if he’s allowed to leave them in the lurch, says Chris Sutton on It’s All Kicking Off

Liveprool star Salah has been heavily linked with a move Saudi side Al-Ittihad
Former Premier League winner Sutton believe it would be a ‘scandal’ if he leaves
Would Mohamed Salah ‘do the dirty’ on Liverpool by leaving? And what about Man United ‘diving’?: Listen to It’s All Kicking Off, Mail Sport’s new podcast

Mohamed Salah has been heavily linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ittihad attempting to pry the Egyptian away from Liverpool this summer.

Many have had their say on the potential transfer, which would surely harm the Premier League, as Salah has been one of the standout players in England since his arrival six years ago from AS Roma.

Speaking on the brand new Mail Sport podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off’, former Premier League player and co-host Chris Sutton believes that it would be ‘scandalous’ if the forward decided to leave Liverpool with just days to go in the transfer window.

He began: ‘My thoughts are Mo Salah cannot leave Liverpool at this time to go to Saudi. Just based on the timing of it.

‘We’re a couple of days now to the end of the window. I think that would be scandalous if Mo Salah decided to leave and leave Liverpool in the lurch.

Mohamed Salah: Liverpool forward says he never wants to leave the club | Football News | Sky Sports

Now, if this was a deal which was in the pipeline a month, five, six weeks ago, do you know what? I’d understand it.’

Sutton continued to state that Salah leaving Liverpool now would be an insult to Jurgen Klopp after the German has shown loyalty to his forward.

He said: ‘But I think if he did that, he would, I mean, that would be a real slap across the face for Jurgen Klopp, a guy who actually turned Mo Salah into the world-class player, which he is, a guy who has shown great loyalty to Salah, and I get Salah’s shown great loyalty to Liverpool, but I feel Mo Salah owes Jurgen Klopp one as well.’

Sutton continued to predict that Liverpool could challenge at the top end of the Premier League if they are to keep their star.

‘Mo Salah still has a lot to offer for Liverpool, and Liverpool are a better team with Mo Salah in it, and Liverpool can maybe challenge Manchester City if Mo Salah stays,’ he said.

‘So I think Mo Salah owes it to Liverpool’.

The Reds mounted an impressive comeback against Newcastle United after Virgil van Dijk was sent off for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Sutton added: ‘I think that’s a big thing, he’s on £350,000 pounds a week. That’s a lot of money, that’s an absolute fortune.

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Chris Sutton believes that Salah owes it to Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp to stay this summe

Salah got a late assist for Liverpool against Newcastle as the Reds mounted

Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off’ debated all the big talking points from the weekend

‘But if he turned his back on Liverpool right now, it wouldn’t leave Jurgen Klopp enough time to get an adequate replacement if there is such a thing to replace Mo Salah.

‘And that would be where, you know, he cannot do the dirty on Liverpool. That would be an absolute scandal.’

Liverpool will be hoping to keep their star man for the season, with Klopp’s side holding high hopes in the Premier League after an impressive start.

Salah got a late assist for Darwin Nunez as they completed the most unlikely turnaround at St James’ Park – after dropping to ten men just before the 30 minute mark at 1-0 down following Virgil van Dijk’s red card.

Sutton said: ‘He cannot do Liverpool dirty, it would be an absolute scandal.’

With the transfer window slamming shut on Friday, Klopp’s side would have little time to find a replacement for their star man.

It remains to be seen as to whether Salah will remain a Premier League player by the time the transfer window closes.

FOOTBALL

Al-Ittihad want Liverpool centre-back Joe Gomez

Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad have Liverpool defender Joe Gomez very high on the list of defenders they want to sign this summer, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

They love the Englishman due to his versatility as he can play at both full-back positions and centre-back, but the Reds insist they have no intention of selling any important player before the summer transfer window closes on Friday.

Al-Ittihad are still very much interested in Mohamed Salah and have now returned for another Liverpool player.

The 27-year-old made his second Premier League appearance of 2023-24 against Newcastle United on Sunday, coming off the bench after Virgil van Dijk was sent off 28 minutes into the game, and his resolute performance at the back helped Jurgen Klopp’s side secure a 2-1 victory against all odds.

Gomez is behind the Liverpool captain, Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate in the pecking order at centre-back, while Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold are the first-choices at left-back and right-back, respectively.

Nevertheless, the former Charlton Athletic star is very important to Klopp and he made 31 appearances across all competitions last term, with only ten on them coming from the bench.

Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad have Liverpool defender Joe Gomez very high on the list of defenders they want to sign this summer, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Al-Ittihad are still very much interested in Mohamed Salah and have now returned for another Liverpool player.

Nevertheless, the former Charlton Athletic star is very important to Klopp and he made 31 appearances across all competitions last term, with only ten on them coming from the bench.

Gomez has played 175 games since joining Liverpool in the summer of 2015, and while he is yet to score a goal, he has six assists to his name and has been a capable option across the back line.

He has also featured 11 times for the England national team and has four more years left on his current deal.

Al-Ittihad will be willing to offer Gomez more than the £85,000 weekly wages he currently earns at Anfield, but Liverpool are unwilling to entertain offers from the Saudis for any of their players, and it will be interesting to see what happens in the coming days.

The club have already lost Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to the moneybags from the Middle East earlier this summer and are unwilling to do business with them this week as there is very little time left to get in replacements even if selling players were to be considered.