Pros and cons of Mo Salah transfer to Al Ittihad as Liverpool star backed to make Saudi Pro League move

Liverpool probably wish at this point that the Saudi Pro League vultures would just leave them alone and focus their attentions on unsettling players from other clubs.

The Reds have already lost Fabinho to Al Ittihad and Jordan Henderson to Al Ettifaq in this transfer window, with the former now exploring a deal for Mohamed Salah, having offered him a rumoured £141 million contract to move to the Saudi Pro League.

Jurgen Klopp has been clear in his messaging that Salah is not for sale but with the Saudi window not closing until September 20th, nearly three weeks after the Premier League transfer window closes, this is a saga that could run and run.

But what should Liverpool do with their star player?

We got two of our writers to answer that question, with one making the case for him leaving and the other explaining why he just would not countenance a deal.

Here's what they had to say.

Pros of selling Salah - Chris Byfield

While Salah remains Liverpool’s most influential player, his prospective departure to the Saudi Pro League may not be as devastating a blow to the Reds as it first appears.

Indeed, last summer the Egyptian put pen to paper on a three-year club-record £350,000-per-week contract.

With just two years of that deal remaining, and Saudi Arabia’s interest in the forward unlikely to wane given his status as one of the most high-profile Muslim players in world football, this summer presents Liverpool with their final opportunity to receive a sizeable fee for the player.

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Some reports have even suggested Al Ittihad would be prepared to pay a £100 million transfer fee for Salah’s services. Should the Egypt captain look to depart for the Gulf state next summer, which is a distinct possibility, he would command half that fee, given he’ll have a year remaining on his deal and be 32-years-old, which is veteran status by the standards of the transfer market.

Selling Salah, who netted 30 goals last season and recorded a goal and an assist in his opening two matches this campaign, would be a bold call but represent good business given his value and powers will inevitably dwindle from this summer onwards.

At this stage in the window, it would be hard to find a Salah replacement, but surely some in the Liverpool hierarchy must be tempted to cash in?

Cons of selling Salah - Marcus Chan

Forget Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz, Salah is without doubt Liverpool’s most important player.

This would be Liverpool’s worst decision in modern history if they decide to cash in on Salah. It is impossible to imagine where this team would be without their ‘Egyptian King’.

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Salah is always fit, always scoring goals, always creating chances, he is just always there when they need him most and so Liverpool simply cannot sell their most prized asset.

In addition, with fans already feel let down by club owners FSG after a desperately disappointing transfer window, the uproar will be unprecedented if John W Henry decides it is a wise decision to move Salah on.

Despite being 31 now, Salah is still, without doubt, the best winger in the Premier League.

If Liverpool are serious about challenging for anything this season, they need their best player in the squad.

It's not just Liverpool who this will impact either. Moving away from Merseyside is not a good look for the Premier League; losing one of its biggest stars and best players will also be catastrophic for the competition.

Topics: Liverpool, Liverpool Transfer News & Rumours, Saudi Pro League, Mohamed Salah

The SPORTbible Team