Mo Salah to be rested by Egypt as Liverpool ace considers future after Al-Ittihad’s monstrous £170m transfer bid
MO SALAH has been rested by Egypt as the Liverpool star weighs up his future after a mega £170million Saudi offer.
Al-Ittihad made the eye-watering bid just hours after the Reds rejected £150m.
Liverpool are adamant that forward Salah is not for sale but the Saudi Pro League side are willing to go as high as a world-record £200m ahead of the transfer window in the Middle East closing on Thursday.
Last Thursday, Egypt chief Rui Vitoria called up Salah for the Africa Cup of Nations dead rubber qualifier at home to Ethiopia on Friday.
The 31-year-old was due to join his international team-mates on Monday to prepare but Salah has been allowed to stay in the UK and be available for any talks on his future.
SunSport understands the Egyptian Football Association have “decided to give him a break” but Salah is expected to travel for the friendly against Tunisia at home on September 12.
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Reports in Salah’s homeland claimed the EFA said in a statement: “The coach decided not to depend on Salah in the Ethiopia game, especially as the team has already ensured qualification for the African Cup of Nations finals. Salah will play the Tunisia game normally.”
Egypt have already secured their spot at the continental championships in Ivory Coast in January 2024 as Group D winners.
Signing Salah – who has scored 140 goals in 234 Premier League appearances – would be a major coup for a league that has splashed out hundreds of millions of petro-dollars on marquee names this summer.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits his club are powerless to stop Saudi mega-money transfers.
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Especially when Salah – an Arabic speaker and devout Muslim – has been offered a staggering £2.3m a week to make the monster move.
Liverpool, who are not in the Champions League this season, face Aston Villa at Anfield and it could represent Salah’s last match.
Meanwhile, Ryan Gravenberch trained with the Reds for the first time after his £34.2m move from Bayern Munich.
The Dutchman is not available for the Anfield clash with Villa but he was put through his paces alongside his new team-mates at Melwood.
And in front of Gravenberch’s international team-mates Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo, Andy Robertson quipped: “Finally, a good Dutch player!”