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Mo Salah 'likely to leave Liverpool' in crushing deadline transfer blow to Jurgen Klopp
Mohamed Salah could reportedly leave Liverpool this week ahead of the transfer window deadline.
Liverpool may be dealt a hammer blow this week as Mohamed Salah is reportedly 'likely' to leave the club before the transfer deadline. Jurgen Klopp was adamant last week when reports emerged of Saudi Arabia's interest in snapping up Salah in the final days of the transfer window.
He said: “We don’t have an offer, Mo Salah is still a Liverpool player, obviously for all the things we do, he’s essential and will be. There’s nothing there. If there would be something, the answer would be no.
My life philosophy is I think about a problem when I have it. At the moment, there’s absolutely nothing. I said already if there is something, the answer would be no.”
But the situation may change this week with Jan Aage Fjortoft reporting that Salah will 'likely' leave the club in the coming days. He wrote on X: "I understand it's likely that Salah will leave Liverpool this week."
He added: "The money offered to player AND club is just unbelievable. The fact that the transfer window in Saudi Arabia closes 7th of September (as stated at Saudi - FA site - other places says even 20th) makes this also more complicated."
Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad are said to be the club hoping to snatch Salah from Anfield before the deadline. It's claimed they are willing to offer Salah the same salary that Cristiano Ronaldo earns at Al Nassr.
Salah's possible departure would leave Liverpool needing to bring in a new right winger capable of replacing Salah. But Liverpool would have little time to find an adequate replacement with just two days left of the transfer window.
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The issue for Liverpool, and other clubs around Europe, is that clubs from Saudi Arabia can still sign players after this week's deadline. There has been some confusion on when Saudi Arabia's transfer window closes, but it's open until September 7 at the earliest.
FIFA has September 20 listed as the deadline, however the Saudi Arabia Football Federation says the window closes on September 7. Premier League managers have voiced their concern over Saudi's transfer window closing later than most of Europe's top leagues.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said: "It is a competitor now, I think we have to change that."