Al Ittihad stars Karim Benzema and Jota have already sent Mohamed Salah warnings over his potential move to Saudi Arabia.
Salah has been the headline act of transfer deadline day, with Al Ittihad pouring all of their efforts into signing the Egyptian winger in what could become the most expensive transfer of all time.
Liverpool are thought to have snubbed the Saudi Pro League side’s initial £150 million bid for their star player. But Nuno Espirito Santo and co aren’t giving up there, having reportedly prepared a record-breaking £200m offer to help lure Salah to the Middle East.
If he did make the lucrative switch, the 31-year-old would join up with 2022/23 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, who penned a three-year contract at Al Ittihad following a glittering 14-year career at Real Madrid.
However, the 35-year-old talisman may make Salah think twice about a move after reports emerged last month claiming Benzema was ‘uncomfortable’ at the club.
Saudi newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat stated that there were tensions between Benzema and his manager after Nuno turned down the Frenchman’s request to be captain, with the former Tottenham boss allegedly against signing him in the first place.
As a result, Benzema was left “not comfortable” working under the current conditions, after “being treated unprofessionally by his coach”.
And he isn’t the only one. Jota, who joined the likes of N’Golo Kante and Fabinho at Al Ittihad from Celtic in a deal worth a reported £25 million, has also endured a tricky start to life in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking back in August, Saudi journalist Waleed Al Farraj claimed that the club’s hierarchy are keen to get rid of Jota just a month after his arrival because he “does not serve the team”.
“I heard that Jota will not continue with the team,” said Farraj. “Yes, the club paid €30 million for him, but the club found that he does not serve the team at the moment.
“Ittihad’s interests come first. I am happy to have Karim Benzema in the centre-forward position, but he lacks playing alongside world-class attacking wingers. But in that way, absolutely not.”
Therefore, it is no surprise that Al Ittihad are keen to add Liverpool’s all-time top Premier League goalscorer to their weaponry.
Although concerning reports regarding both Benzema and Jota’s experiences in the Middle East may have a bearing on Salah’s decision, with the ‘Egyptian King’ a much-loved figure in Merseyside.
Liverpool have already identified their Mo Salah replacement amid Al Ittihad links
Al Ittihad are heating up their transfer pursuit of Liverpool star Mohamed Salah – and the Reds have already identified their perfect replacement if he leaves the club.
At present, Liverpool’s stance – publicly stated by manager Jurgen Klopp – is that Salah is not for sale, with the club desperate to keep hold of him beyond the current transfer window.
The Egyptian has made no comment on his future, but his agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, took to Twitter earlier this month to confirm that Salah is fully committed to Liverpool.
There is no indication that, even if a big-money offer does come in from Al Ittihad, Salah would accept it, given the fact he signed a three-year contract with Liverpool last summer and remains in the prime of his career in Europe.
According to CBS Sports, the Saudi Pro League side are preparing a bid of around £130 million to sign the 31-year-old, and plan to make him one of the world’s highest-paid players.
Meanwhile, Liverpool appear to be setting up a contingency plan should, from their perspective, the unthinkable happens that would see Salah leave Anfield.
Liverpool ‘identify Mo Salah replacement’
According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, the Reds have identified Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi and Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane as potential replacements for Salah.
A move for Sane would arrive with the advantage of the player having Premier League experience with Manchester City.
Adeyemi, meanwhile, is just 21 but has already impressed during spells with RB Leipzig and Dortmund.
But their top target is said to be Juventus star Federico Chiesa, who has been consistently linked with a move to the Reds during the current window.
After signing for Juve on loan from Fiorentina in 2020, the Italy international provided 15 goal contributions in his debut season for the club.
But he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in January 2022, and missed eight months of action as a result.
He made 21 Serie A appearances last term, with the majority of those from the bench, as he worked his way back to full match sharpness.
Chiesa has started this season well, scoring in Juve’s 3-0 win over Udinese on the opening day of the Serie A campaign.
His injury struggles have led to a dip in value from €70 million to €40 million, as per Transfermarkt, but Juve are likely to still command a premium for one of their key assets as he returns to his pre-injury form levels