Latest developments
- Al-Hilal remain interested in Liverpool's star winger Mohamed Salah
- Saudi Pro League side will look to sign the Egyptian in revolutionary transfer window
- Al-Hilal want to sign Salah before the start of the Club World Cup in the summer
Whisper+ analysis
Authenticity (3.5/5): Where there is smoke, there is fire
Salah had been heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabia with Al-Ittihad in the summer, as the Egyptian winger had been said to be unsettled at Anfield. Despite the Pro League side's reported £150 million (€180.4m) bid, Liverpool ultimately decided not to accept those terms late into the transfer window.
Salah's contract at Liverpool will expire at the end of the season, and Al-Ittihad's interest in the winger has been replaced by Al-Hilal, which is keen on signing the 32-year-old ahead of their participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
The report comes from talkSPORT correspondent Ben Jacobs, who is known to be a reliable source with all things Liverpool. The report effectively states that Saudi Pro League sporting director Michael Emenalo is heading the talks with Salah due to the duo's close relationship.
Value (5/5): Salah as a free agent is a no-brainer
Salah's contract with Liverpool is up in June 2025 and the Egyptian winger is reportedly not close to a renewal with the Merseyside club. The Reds may regret their decision to reject Al-Ittihad's mammoth bid in the summer, as it now seems that unless they can strike up a deal with Salah, the 32-year-old will likely leave the club as a free agent.
Al-Hilal are planning to sign Salah during FIFA's special transfer window, which runs from 1-10 June for sides competing in the Club World Cup. As such, the Egyptian could finish the 2024/25 season with Arne Slot's side and immediately make his way to Saudi Arabia to link up with Jorge Jesus' team for the new-look Club World Cup.
Suitability (5/5): Salah would fit right in at Al-Hilal
Al-Hilal have been preparing a super team under Jesus with the likes of Neymar Jr, Joao Cancelo, Aleksandar Mitrovic, and Ruben Neves, among others, staring for them as they lead the Saudi Pro League. The Portuguese manager has been adept so far at handling big egos at his club and Salah will likely be no different.
Upgrade? (5/5): Salah would be a mammoth upgrade for Al-Hilal
The reigning league champions currently operate with Malcom and Mohammed Al-Qahtani on the right wing. As such, Salah would be a massive upgrade on Jesus' current options. Additionally, with Neymar struggling heavily with injuries, Salah would slot in as their number-one star winger at the club which would help Al-Hilal compete for the AFC Champions League and potentially even the 2025 Club World Cup.
Logic (5/5): Salah's move would raise the ceiling for Saudi Pro League
The Saudi Pro League has been very proactive in their attempts to improve the league's viewership across the globe. It all started with Al-Nassr's signing of Cristiano Ronaldo at the start of 2023 followed by Al-Hilal's move for Neymar Jr. While those moves gave the league a spotlight, Salah's move to the Saudi Pro League while still at the top of his career will give the league a platform in not just Europe but also Asia and Africa due to Salah's prominence in those regions.
Whisper+ final verdict – (23.5 /25)
Should Salah not extend with Liverpool, Al-Hilal should be hot in the chase for the Egyptian as they will hope not to lose the star winger to another club. It is highly unlikely that there will be a better free agency prospect for the side this summer and as such, they will likely try to all in their power to sign the Liverpool superstar before the commencement of the Club World Cup.
Whether they are able to sign Salah before the start of the Club World Cup will be a matter of timing. Even if they fail to do so, Al-Hilal will try to sign the Egyptian in the summer of 2025 nonetheless.
