The Mohamed Salah era will come to an end for Liverpool this summer. After nine glorious years on Merseyside, the Egyptian will move on and embrace a new challenge.
Speculation is already swirling over Salah’s next destination. At 33, the winger is already into the twilight of his career. This season hasn’t been as productive for the Egyptian, yet another team in another league could re-energise him.
Al Ittihad had a £150million ($200m) offer for Salah rejected in September 2023, and interest from the Saudi Pro League could remain now that the Egyptian is about to become a free agent at the end of the season.
Al Hilal were also interested in signing Salah for the 2025 Club World Cup, but couldn’t convince Liverpool or the player to make the switch so soon after winning the 2024-25 Premier League title.
Salah is 8/11 to sign for a Saudi Pro League club before 31st August. He would be another big name in the division’s collection of superstars that already includes Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mane.
Will Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane link up in the Saudi Pro League? (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
The current geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East could be a stumbling block to Salah making the move to Saudi Arabia. Next month’s Formula 1 race in the country has been postponed due to the ongoing conflict in Iran, while one football match was postponed shortly after war broke out.
Known as a family man, Salah might not be so keen on taking his loved ones to Saudi Arabia at this moment in time, considering what is happening in the region.
Major League Soccer could be another destination for the Egyptian winger. Salah is 15/8 to make the move across the Atlantic this summer, with MLS commissioner Don Garber on the record as saying he would “love to see” the Egyptian in the league.
San Diego FC, owned by British-Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Mansour, have been mentioned as potential suitors and have shown their ambition to sign a big-name Designated Player by moving (unsuccessfully) for Kevin De Bruyne after making the decision to leave Manchester City.
Chicago Fire previously sounded out Salah for a transfer before the winger signed a contract extension to stay at Liverpool last year, but haven’t followed up their interest yet now that he is soon to be on the market.
New York City FC will open their new stadium next year, in time for MLS’s schedule shift. The City Football Group-owned club could use a marquee player like Salah to help sell season tickets.
A return to Roma is priced at 10/1. Salah was a key figure for the Giallorossi in his two seasons at the club and would be treated as a homecoming hero by the Stadio Olimpico faithful.
But Salah’s wages of £400,00-a-week could be a stumbling block for the Serie A side. Although with Paulo Dybala out of contract at the end of the season, Roma could have some room in their budget for a new marquee attacker.
Barcelona are listed as a potential destination for Salah at 11/1, but it’s unclear where the Egyptian would fit into a team that already boasts Lamine Yamal on the right wing.
With Robert Lewandowski expected to leave the Camp Nou this summer and Marcus Rashford still only on loan, Barca could sign Salah to bolster their attacking options and provide some experience to an otherwise young group of players.
Having played in the Premier League and Serie A, Salah may be open to adding another Big Five league to his collection by joining a La Liga club, particularly one of Barcelona’s stature.
Also at 11/1, Paris Saint-Germain would allow Salah to stay at the elite level of the European game. The defending Champions League winners could have the budget to pay the sort of wages Salah is on at Liverpool.
However, PSG have moved away from their previous model of signing established superstars like Salah. What’s more, Luis Enrique’s system requires intensity out of possession and defensive work rate from all players. Salah might not be able to offer that.
Salah would certainly improve the forward line of Newcastle United, listed at 11/1. However, it’s unclear if he would entertain the idea of a move to another Premier League club. What’s more, Newcastle won’t be in the Champions League next season with Eddie Howe’s team sitting in 12th place in the Premier League table.
While there is a lot of uncertainty over Salah’s future, it’s safe to assume the Egyptian will have plenty of offers to consider this summer.
The next step in Salah’s career will become clearer over the coming weeks and months.