Al Ittihad are reportedly targeting a centre-back alongside the signing of Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, according to reports – and have already contacted two Premier League stars.
The Saudi Pro League side have already completed big business this summer, completing moves for Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante on free transfers after their contracts expired.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have also brought in Fabinho from Liverpool for around £40 million, as well as Celtic star Jota and Morocco forward Abderrazak Hamdallah.
They have won each of their first four Saudi Pro League fixtures this season, including a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Al Riyadh on Thursday.
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In recent weeks, links with a potential move for Salah have grown stronger, and the Daily Mail claim that the Saudi Pro League club will not give up on the Egyptian despite Liverpool’s insistence that he is not for sale.
Now, according to a new report, they could raid Arsenal or Manchester United for their next signing.
Al Ittihad ‘identify next target after Salah’
According to CBS Sports writer James Benge, Al Ittihad are plotting a €150 million bid for Salah before the window closes.
Benge also claims that Nuno’s side want to sign a marquee centre-back, and have already contacted stars from Arsenal and Manchester United as their top targets.
It is reported that they intend to make a big impact at the Club World Cup in December – a tournament which they will co-host.
Al Ittihad have reportedly already contacted the players in question, who are said to be Gabriel Magalhaes and Raphael Varane.
And while they have made no progress on either deal, they could make new approaches as the transfer window draws to a close.
CBS Sports add that another player of interest is former PSG and Real Madrid star Sergio Ramos, who has been a free agent since departing Parc des Princes in July.
The five-time Champions League winner had been in talks with Turkish side Besiktas earlier this month, but the club publicly stated that they would not be signing him due to ‘financial disagreements’.
Al Ittihad have also been linked with a move for Liverpool defender Joe Gomez, who came off the bench in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Newcastle following Virgil van Dijk’s sending off.
Saudi Professional League side Al Ittihad are ‘increasingly confident’ of signing Liverpool superstar Mo Salah, it has been reported.
Salah has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia for the last few weeks.
Earlier in the month, Salah’s agent Ramy Abbas said: “If we considered leaving LFC this year, we wouldn’t have renewed the contract last summer. Mohamed remains committed to LFC.”
However, on Thursday morning, it was reported that the Liverpool forward had changed his mind.
According to Arriyadiyah, Salah is now considering the offer from Al Ittihad very seriously after being offered a huge contract.
It has been claimed that Al Ittihad are increasingly confident of signing Salah before the summer transfer window shuts on September 20.
However, the Saudi Arabian side are facing a race against the clock to negotiate with Liverpool, who will be tough in negotiations as the English transfer window is due to shut in less than a week’s time.
Sports Zone have also reported that Al Ittihad are confident in bringing the Egyptian to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Last weekend, Salah scored his first Premier League goal of the 23/24 season after scoring in Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth at Anfield.
Since joining Liverpool in a deal worth a reported £34.3 million back in 2017, Salah has been one of the best players in the world football.
In 307 appearances, Salah has scored 187 goals whilst getting his hands on the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Community Shield and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Back in May, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp said: “No worries, no [that Salah wants to go]. I couldn’t read anything that could lead in that direction.
“Obviously Mo loves being here and Mo was part of it. He said apologies for what ‘we’ did – not apologies for ‘what the other guys did, but I had to go with them’. Not at all. It is all fine.”
Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on Mohamed Salah’s future amid claims Al Ittihad have reignited their interest in the Egyptian.
Salah, 31, has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League, with several of the Gulf nation’s top clubs reportedly keen to sign the Egyptian.
Al Ittihad, who have already signed Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante, have emerged as favourites to land Salah – should Liverpool decide to sell this summer.
Saudi outlet Arriyadiyah claimed on Thursday that Salah is ‘very seriously’ considering a lucrative contract offer from Al Ittihad.
Spanish publication Relevo went one step further and reported that the Liverpool star wants to leave the club, having been offered a deal that would see him replace Cristiano Ronaldo as the highest-paid player in world football.
Meanwhile, SportZone claim Salah has already agreed to a three-year deal with Al Ittihad following a meeting between the club and his representatives in Qatar.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein confirmed there is ‘concrete’ interest in Salah from Al Ittihad but says nothing has been agreed.
“It is unclear at this stage if a deal for the 31-year-old will materialise,” he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Earlier this month, Salah’s agent played down reports linking the player with a move to Saudi Arabia.
His representative, Ramy Abbas, posted on X: “If we considered leaving LFC this year, we wouldn’t have renewed the contract last summer. Mohamed remains committed to LFC.”
Transfer expert Romano claims it is highly unlikely Salah will leave Liverpool this summer, have previously described the Egyptian as “untouchable”.
“Liverpool have been clear with Mo Salah and Al Ittihad: no intention to negotiate, he’s considered not for sale,” Romano posted on X.
“Al Ittihad astronomical contract bid to Salah remains valid to tempt Mo; but only way would be for Salah to force the move.”
Mohamed Salah wants to leave Liverpool amid interest from Saudi Arabia League side Al-Ittihad, it has been claimed.
Salah has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia throughout the summer, with the Gulf nation having secured deals for Europe’s elite talent throughout the summer.
Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, Brazilian sensation Neymar and former Liverpool winger Sadio Mane have all moved to Saudi Arabia this summer, months after Cristiano Ronaldo made a pioneering transfer to Al Nassr in January.
And Salah could be the next player among Europe’s elite to move to the burgeoning league.
According to Spanish publication Relevo, the Liverpool star wants to leave the club having been offered the most lucrative salary in the entire Saudi Pro League.
Al-Ittihad representatives have allegedly met with Salah’s representatives and will offer the Egyptian higher wages than Cristiano Ronaldo.
The club are said to be convinced that Salah will be lured by the prospect of playing in a Muslim country alongside his eye-watering salary.
The report comes a day after journalist Rudy Galetti claimed Al Ittihad had submitted an offer to Liverpool which, if accepted, would break the Saudi Pro League transfer record set by Al Hilal’s £77.3million move for Neymar.
Galetti wrote: “Al Ittihad don’t give up for Salah: the club sent a huge offer (more than £79million) to convince especially Klopp – who rejected the idea of his farewell so far – to let him go.
“If Liverpool will accept, it’ll be the most expensive deal in the history of Saudi League.”
When rumours began to swirl of a potential move to the Saudi Pro League earlier this summer, Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, took to Twitter to deny that the Egyptian had any desire to leave Liverpool.
Earlier this month, Issa said: “If we considered leaving LFC this year, we wouldn’t have renewed the contract last summer.”
The attacker still has two years remaining on his contract at Liverpool, while he is part of the club’s new leadership group upon the departure of former club captain Jordan Henderson to Al Ettifaq.
