In the summer of 2023, the European transfer market experienced disruption with the intrusion of Saudi Pro League clubs, attracting notable superstars from the top European leagues. The Middle East witnessed the largest influx of players enticed by hefty contracts.
Liverpool’s talisman Mohamed Salah has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia since last summer. Despite a desperate £200 million offer from Al-Ittihad to secure the Egyptian’s signature, Liverpool blocked the transfer. However, the SPL is now looking to alter the rules to accommodate more such signings.
SPL’s change spells trouble for Liverpool’s Salah
The stature of the Saudi Pro League has significantly grown as a sports league In the past year. With substantial investments, it has become a destination for global soccer stars and managers. Moreover, these developments have contributed to the nation acquiring the hosting rights for the FIFA World Cup 2034.
Salah could be on the radar of a Saudi club as their previous formal huge bids were denied by Liverpool. It is now believed that the winger might leave the Merseyside club in the summer transfer window of 2024, as SPL clubs are expected to renew their pursuit of Liverpool’s forward.
Mohamed Salah is in the final years of his Liverpool contract, set to expire in June 2025. However, the Jurgen Klopp side will consider preventing the 31-year-old from moving away as a free agent. Earlier rumors suggested that Liverpool is betting on Mohamed Salah to sign Kylian Mbappe from PSG.
Following a contract extension in July 2022, Mohamed Salah earns £300,000-a-week in his current deal at Anfield, making him the highest-paid player in Liverpool’s history. However, this might not prevent his potential move to a Middle Eastern country.
Saudi Arabia pursues top stars with altered transfer plans
According to The Telegraph, Saudi Arabian clubs are discussing the possibility of increasing the number of foreign players a club can register in their squad from 7 players to three more, making it 10. Although the concept is still in the early phase, the new alteration might help them recruit more players from Europe.
Presently, the clubs are required to register eight non-Saudi players with the majority of clubs fulfilling the requirement means the clubs may have to release their players to bring in new players in the upcoming transfer window.
This change in plans could pose a significant threat to the top five European leagues, which have witnessed the departure of big players due to the SPL’s shopping spree. In fact, the Pro League expenditure in the transfer market now rivals that of the top leagues across Europe.
