The Saudi market has been grabbing headlines in recent days following the controversy involving Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and even Jorge Jesus. With the possibility of the Portuguese star, the league's most important name, leaving the country, other world football stars have entered the investors' radar.
According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, Al-Ittihad, who lost Benzema in the last transfer window, have identified Salah as their primary target to fill the void left by the Frenchman. The Egyptian has been one of the most coveted players by Saudi Arabian clubs and recently experienced a difficult period with Liverpool.
Al-Ittihad planning summer move for Salah
The Saudi club's plan includes a fresh approach in the middle of this year. Salah renewed his contract with the Reds last season and his deal is set to expire in June 2027.
However, despite the Egyptian's continued presence in the Premier League, the relationship between the forward and the English club has changed after the player expressed dissatisfaction with how he has been treated by the club in recent months.
Al-Ittihad, managed by Portuguese coach Sergio Conceicao, sit sixth in the Saudi League with 34 points and, following Benzema's transfer to Al-Hilal, fear that their rivals, who already have 47 points, will pull away at the top of the table.
Mohamed Salah: A longstanding Saudi ambition
The controversy between Saudi football's stars has reinforced a longstanding desire in the country: to secure Mohamed Salah's transfer. Even with the objective of signing rising stars, the Saudi clubs would reportedly be willing to make an exception for the player.
Francesca Petriccione, a legal and strategy consultant specialising in the Saudi Arabian market, spoke to Sky Sports about this: “The technical contribution and global visibility that Mohamed Salah could bring to the Saudi League is unbelievable,” she stated.
Besides the Egyptian, Vinicius Jr also came into consideration. At the time, the Brazilian was going through a difficult spell under Xabi Alonso, in addition to the ongoing impasse over his contract renewal with Real Madrid, which has still not been resolved.
Currently, the forward is still negotiating his future at Los Blancos and has experienced ups and downs, including difficult moments with the fans who booed the squad, casting doubt over the player's future.
