There have been plenty of big names making the move to the Saudi Pro League this summer, but the reports on Thursday of Mo Salah leaving Liverpool to move to the league were perhaps the most startling yet.
Salah has been one of the most consistently prolific players in the Premier League in recent years, with the Egyptian scoring at least 19 Premier League goals in each of his first six seasons with Liverpool - a remarkable record for a player who does not even play as an out-and-out striker.
With so many departures in midfield for Liverpool this summer, there is understandable doubt about the stability of the team, and Salah's surefire supply of goals is one of the few constants that Jurgen Klopp will be relying on for the season ahead.
The reports emerging on Thursday linking Salah with a move to Al-Ittihad will therefore be an understandable cause of concern for Liverpool fans. David Ornstein of the Athletic was among those to report on the potential transfer, saying that Al-Ittihad are keen to sign the 31-year-old.
🚨 Al-Ittihad have a concrete interest in signing Mohamed Salah from Liverpool. Saudi Pro League club making a renewed attempt to recruit 31yo Egypt international forward. Unclear at this stage if a move will materialise @TheAthleticFC #LFC #AlIttihad #SPL https://t.co/1SVO8kgxo1
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 24, 2023
Ornstein did state that Liverpool's stance remains that Salah is not for sale, but various reports of varying veracity suggested that the player may be convinced by a move to the Middle East.
Salah's former teammate Dejan Lovren is known to be an outspoken personality and, in light of Thursday's rumours, he moved to shut down any talk linking the Liverpool winger with a move away from Anfield.
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Liverpool: Lovren shuts down talk of Salah moving to Saudi Arabia
There has been no shortage of movement to Saudi Arabia over the past 12 months, though most of the big names to move to the league are players entering the twilight of their careers.
Though Mo Salah is entering his 30s, he is still one of the best performing goalscorers in the Premier League and any potential move for the Egyptian star to the region would be a massive statement of intent for the league.
If Salah's ex-teammate Dejan Lovren is to be believed, no such prospect exists.
With transfer news accounts sharing rumours on Thursday afternoon of Salah's desire to join Al-Ittihad (managed by Nuno Espirito Santo of Wolves and Tottenham fame), Lovren was quick to respond and shut down any talk of his former Liverpool teammate moving to the Saudi Pro League.
— Dejan Lovren (@Dejan06Lovren) August 24, 2023
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In a since deleted tweet, Lovren responded to reports suggesting that Mo Salah had given the green light to a move to Al-Ittihad.
The report suggested that Karim Benzema had convinced Salah to join the Saudi club, to which Lovren responded:
So many fake news in this world, its getting ridiculous. I should start a new page which is called “Here we go, but honestly, trust me."
If Mo Salah were to join Al-Ittihad, it would arguably be the biggest move yet to the Saudi Pro League, with Salah still one of the top players in the Premier League and of a relatively younger age profile to most of the biggest stars who have moved to the league.
Time will tell if there is any truth to Thursday's rumours.
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