Michael Emenalo, the director of football for the Saudi Pro League, has said that Mohamed Salah is welcome to finish his transfer to Liverpool.
The Saudi Pro League continues to be interested in signing Mohamed Salah, telling the Liverpool attacker that he is “welcome at any time” to relocate there.
On the transfer deadline day in September, the Reds turned down a £150 million offer from Saudi Arabia’s top team, Al-Ittihad, after making it plain they would not consider any proposals for the player.
Al-Ittihad is one of four groups to have benefited from a financial boost from PIF, the majority owner of Newcastle United, which has encouraged a number of well-known figures to relocate to Saudi Arabia, including the ex-Liverpool trio of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, and Roberto Firmino.
Salah is considered by Saudi Arabia to be the most well-known Muslim athlete in the world, and they anticipate to rekindle their interest in him during the upcoming summer transfer window, which might put Liverpool’s determination to the test given that Salah will be entering the final year of his current deal at Anfield.
The league is still interested in moving the Reds forward, according to Michael Emenalo, director of football and a former Chelsea player.
“Mo is welcome at any time,” he said. “But no-one is pressured or forced to come. If anyone would like to come and there is an opportunity to work with the releasing club in a very respectful and professional manner, we would be very happy to have them. But, yeah, Mo is my personal favourite.”
In an interview with the German news site TZ, Emenalo asserted that “many world-class players” are expressing interest in playing for the Saudi Pro League while acknowledging that the enormous financial rewards on offer are a factor.
“The Saudi Pro League is open to every single superstar who wants to be a part of it,” he said. “The younger they are, the better. I can’t reveal what the plans are. But I can tell you with certainty that many world-class players who want to get into the league are showing great interest.
“I think they want to go to the Saudi Pro League because it would obviously improve their economics. This is what we all strive for in our lives. But most of all they want to come here because they look at the league now and talk to their friends, the other superstars, and understand that this is a place where you can go and have fun, where you can come with your family and live a nice, peaceful life where you can play football in good weather most of the year and where you are well looked after.
“This information is now spreading. And these players are happy to be able to join us.”