Mohamed Salah: Jurgen Klopp in strongest claim yet over Liverpool exit as more talk emerges on replacement

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has given the firmest indication yet about the future of Mohamed Salah as the countdown ticks towards the transfer deadline in Saudi Arabia and amid claims Al-Ittihad are prepping a world-record £200m bid.

The Egyptian star is the biggest footballer in the Arabic world, so it comes as no surprise to see them target Salah in a blockbuster deal. Indeed, Al-Ittihad are preparing to smash not just the world transfer record to sign him, they are also prepared to pay the Egyptian star an eye-watering salary of £1.5m a week. That would top the £1.3m a week Cristiano Ronaldo earns at Al Nassr, and would make Salah the highest paid sportsman in the world.

To add to the wave of uncertainty, there has been something of a media push from the Gulf State to get Salah to sign. Fuelled by headlines claiming Salah has left Liverpool training to push through the move and is ‘already in Jeddah’ to sign on the dotted line have only added to the speculation that his time at Anfield is over.

Liverpool’s position, however, remains unmoved. They have already rejected a £150m offer for Salah on Friday.

And Klopp has also offered several strong statements underlining both the player’s importance and why he is not for sale.

However, with the Saudi transfer deadline not passing until Thursday, Klopp, as well as Liverpool fans, will remain in some state of fear that an offer could yet arrive that is deemed impossible to turn down.

Now, however, following Sunday’s 3-0 home win over Aston Villa, Klopp has moved to once and for all put those suggestions to bed.

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Klopp moves to firmly reject Mohamed Salah transfer rumours

Speaking out on the ongoing Salah rumours, Klopp stated: “He didn’t tell me but he didn’t have to. He speaks with his training and performances and behaviour.

“We had meetings this week, and the meetings were not about what we did in the past, it was about what we will do in the future. Mo was with the players’ [leadership] committee and had his moments where he was talking and it was nothing like ‘by the way, this is only until next week’ or whatever.

“He is completely here and if Dom [Szoboszlai] said that, fine. Mo doesn’t have to come into my office and tell me ‘by the way, boss … [I’m not going]’. For me it wasn’t a subject for one second, to be honest, besides the questions.”

When asked outright if he believed Salah was stating, Klopp responded: “Yes.”

Salah was on the scoresheet as Liverpool beat Villa 3-0 to move third in the table with three wins and a draw from their opening four games. It was the 150th separate match that Salah has netted for the Reds.

Klopp added: “Nobody came to me and told me something could happen or whatever. I’m pretty sure I would have got a call but I didn’t. And Mo didn’t look for a second like he thought about anything else other than about Aston Villa.

“He has unbelievable numbers but it’s not a surprise that he has the numbers. And he had chances on top of that, and involved in creating and setting up and all these kind of things. He’s a world-class player, no doubt about that. And I’m really pleased he is in my team.”

Liverpool already know Salah replacement

In referencing the comments made by Szoboszlai, the Hungarian star is also adamant that Salah has made clear he has no plans to leave, having addressed the speculation about Al-Ittihad in the dressing room.

“He wants to stay, he wants to be here and be with us. We are really happy – we need people in the team like him,” Szoboszlai claimed.

Nonetheless, despite a growing belief Liverpool can resist all the Saudis throw at them, reports claim the Reds are drawing up a list of would-be replacements.

And the player who is apparently right at the top of Klopp’s wanted list is PSV winger Johan Bakayoko.

The 20-year-old Belgian attracted strong interest over amid claims the Merseysiders were keen to buy him. Ultimately, they did not make an offer, but the likes of Burnley and Brentford all made contact with PSV over a potential deal.

Neither Premier League side, though, managed to succeed in convincing PSV to sell. Now it is claimed that Liverpool are ready to make the four-times capped Belgium international their No 1 priority if Salah were to leave.

Per the Daily Express, Bakayoko is Klopp’s top target, with an offer for his services potentially being lined up in January regardless of what happens to Salah.

Brentford saw a £34m offer for Bakayoko fail and it’s suggested it could cost as much as £45m to convince PSV to sell their 27-goal star.

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