The Saudi club set the transfer date for Mohamed Salah so that the Liverpool star can play in the Club World Cup against Lionel Messi
Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal want to sign Mohamed Salah before the Club World Cup, talkSPORT understands.
'The Egyptian King' instilled fear LiverpoolThe fan base during what should have been a weekend of euphoria as the Reds went top of the Premier League.
After scoring the winning goal in Arne Slot's team's 2-1 win over Brighton, he wrote a cryptic post on Instagram, and some Liverpool fans thought he was suggesting a departure from Anfield was looming.
Now talkSPORT's Saudi football correspondent Ben Jacobs has revealed that there are a swarm of interested parties and they want Salah to sign before the FIFA Club World Cup next summer.
Speaking at White and Jordan on Monday, Jacobs said: “2025 is the goal. Al Hilal is the club.
“The Saudi football federation will approach FIFA in this so-called exceptional window before the Club World Cup.
“So, in theory, they could try to sign Salah between June 1 and 10, which means they are looking at him not only for the Saudi Pro League but also for the Club World Cup.”
Salah, whose current Liverpool contract expires in June, has previously been the subject of Saudi interest.
Liverpool rejected a huge £150m deal for the Al Ittihad winger in September 2023.
Al Hilal were also enthusiastic at that time.
talkSPORT reported in April that the Reds were preparing for another bid, but no deal materialized over the summer.
However, seven months later, Jacobs says Al Hilal still hasn't given up his search.
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“Everything indicates that the Saudis are going to return and if Salah is a free agent, then naturally he will be able to get a higher signing fee,” he said.
“Liverpool want him to renew, the Saudis are putting a lot of pressure on him. (Saudi Pro League sporting director) Michael Emenalo, who has a good relationship with Mo Salah, is leading the process.
“So the only thing that has really changed is the club from Al Ittihad to Al Hilal and the expectation is that Saudi Arabia will make a big push.”
Jacobs then added: “Another expectation is that television rights will shift to specific countries in certain territories.
“One of those territories is Egypt, so as a result, if Salah joins, it will also be a return on investment because Egypt will have specific rights as a country.
“And with Salah there, one would hope that the Saudi Pro League could achieve a relatively lucrative deal.
“So Salah to Saudi Arabia remains in play and Al Hilal is the most likely destination with the Club World Cup in mind.”
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If Salah plays in the Club World Cup, he will face Lionel Messi.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner will compete in the competition with David Beckham's Inter Miami.
Salah will also play alongside Neymar and former Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic at Al Hilal, with several big-name stars making the switch since Cristiano Ronaldo's shock switch to Al Nassr in 2022.
The Egyptian has played for Liverpool since 2017, when he signed from Roma for an initial fee of £36.5m which could rise to £43m.
He won the Club World Cup with the Reds in 2020, as well as the Champions League and Premier League, among other honors.
The former Chelsea striker has made 364 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 220 goals and 96 assists, becoming an Anfield legend in the process.
Salah scored his team's winning goal on Saturday as Liverpool recovered from Brighton's Ferdi Kadioglu's early goal.
Cody Gakpo equalized in the 70th minute, before Salah stunned the Seagulls and doubled his team's lead just two minutes later.
Manchester City's defeat to Bournemouth leaves the Reds at the top of the table with a two-point lead over second-place City.
