Mohamed Salah transfer saga  focusing on the reported comments from a Saudi club chief urging teams not to sign him amid rumours of an exit from Liverpool:

Saudi Club Chief Urges Teams Not to Sign Mohamed Salah Amid Liverpool Exit Rumours

Mohamed Salah’s future at Liverpool Football Club has been thrust into fresh uncertainty after a senior figure in Saudi football made striking comments suggesting the Egyptian forward isn’t a desirable signing for Saudi Pro League teams  even as rumours swirl that he may leave Anfield in January. (Daily Sabah)

At the heart of the controversy is Ben Harburg, the chairman of Saudi Pro League club Al-Kholood, who publicly questioned Salah’s suitability for the league at the World Football Summit in Riyadh.

Harburg argued that with Salah now 33 and coming off a campaign in which his impact has dipped, Saudi clubs should focus on younger, up-and-coming talent instead. (Daily Sabah)

“He’s not a fit for our league,” Harburg told assembled media, indicating that Saudi clubs should “ditch” interest in Salah and instead pursue players like Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, a 25-year-old winger he believes offers more long-term upside. (Daily Sabah)

His comments  unusually blunt for a league trying to attract top international stars  reflect a broader hesitation among some in Saudi football about pursuing older European stars whose best years may be behind them.

Harburg acknowledged that while some might be attracted to Salah’s regional and commercial appeal, his recent form and wage demands made the Egyptian a risky investment. (Daily Sabah)

Context: Liverpool Conflict Fuels Transfer Speculation

The comments come amid a very tense period at Liverpool, where Salah has found himself at odds with manager Arne Slot after a series of decisions that saw him dropped or benched.

Salah recently gave an interview criticising the club, stating he felt “thrown under the bus” following his omission from key matches.

This public airing of grievances is widely seen as a factor contributing to transfer speculation. (RealGM Soccer)

Slot, however, has played down the idea of wanting Salah to leave.

In press interactions this week he reiterated that he has “no reasons” to prefer Salah’s exit, stressing that any decision on the player’s future must come from mutual discussions rather than unilateral demands or narratives. (RealGM Soccer)

Nonetheless, Salah’s position in the squad has been volatile he was recently left out of Liverpool’s travelling party for a Champions League tie with Inter Milan, a decision that itself sparked widespread speculation regarding his commitment and standing at the club. (Reuters)

Saudi Interest and Mixed Signals From the Kingdom

Earlier this week, Omar Mugharbel, the CEO of the Saudi Pro League, publicly confirmed that Salah is among players of interest for the league and noted that he would be welcome  emphasising that it is up to individual clubs to pursue negotiations. (beIN SPORTS)

This remark appeared to contradict Harburg’s stance, illustrating a split in perception within Saudi football about whether signing Salah makes sense from both a sporting and a commercial standpoint. (beIN SPORTS)

Despite media narratives suggesting potential moves  particularly after Liverpool’s recent struggles and Salah’s sharp comments  several Saudi clubs have denied that formal talks over a transfer have taken place, describing such reports as based more on “promotional news” and speculation than actual negotiations. (Arab News)

Why Saudi Clubs Are Hesitant

Harburg’s argument rests on a few key points:

• Age and Form: Salah, at 33, is viewed by some as past his peak, particularly given his lower goal contribution this season compared with previous years. (Daily Sabah)

• Contract Situation: Salah signed a contract extension with Liverpool just last summer that runs until 2027  making any January move expensive and complicated. Clubs may be unwilling to pay a premium transfer fee or contribute huge wages for a player whose best years may be behind him. (Arab News)

• Team Fit: Harburg suggested that younger talents like Vinícius Jr  both younger and with higher marketability  would represent better value for the league’s long-term growth strategy than older established stars. (Daily Sabah)

Some analysts believe this reflects a cautious shift in Saudi recruitment strategy moving from a focus purely on star signings for commercial reasons toward a more balanced mix of youth, growth potential, and sustainability.

Whether other clubs will follow Harburg’s lead remains to be seen, but his comments have certainly shifted the tone of this particular transfer debate. (Football365)

Liverpool’s Position and What Comes Next

For Liverpool, the Salah situation continues to be delicate.

Despite tension, the club is yet to formally put the player on the transfer market and Slot’s recent remarks suggest that the club would prefer a resolution that keeps Salah on Merseyside for now. (RealGM Soccer)

Domestically, Liverpool have managed improved form in recent matches despite internal distractions, and several players have publicly distanced themselves from the controversy, underlining that decisions about Salah’s future are a matter strictly between the player and club hierarchy. (The Guardian)

The upcoming Africa Cup of Nations  for which Salah is expected to report soon may offer a temporary pause in the saga, but January’s winter transfer window looms large.

If discussions between Liverpool and Salah fail to repair relations, and if external interest persists, a move whether to Saudi Arabia, Major League Soccer in the United States, or elsewhere cannot be ruled out. (New York Post)

The latest twist a Saudi club chief publicly advising against signing Salah highlights how convoluted and multi-faceted the Egyptian’s future has become.

With contrasting signals from league officials, club denials, internal frictions at Liverpool, and strategic debates among potential suitors, Salah’s next career chapter remains unpredictable.

What was once a straightforward tale of a global superstar potentially moving for a final payday now looks like a deeper debate about value, performance, and vision in modern football.