Former Premier League manager Slaven Bilic has revealed that Mohamed Salah was close to leaving Liverpool last summer before ultimately deciding to stay at the last moment.
Salah has been in outstanding form this season, scoring 25 goals and providing 17 assists in the Premier League, playing a key role in Liverpool’s title challenge under Arne Slot.
However, Bilic suggested that things could have played out very differently. According to the former West Ham boss, Salah had agreed to a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia after growing dissatisfied during Jurgen Klopp’s final months at Liverpool. But when Klopp stepped down at the end of the season, Salah reconsidered and chose to remain at Anfield.
Speaking on The LineUp via BetMGM and talkSPORT, Bilic said that he had firsthand knowledge of Salah’s discontent while managing in Saudi Arabia. He explained that the Saudi Pro League was prepared to welcome the Egyptian star, with Al-Ittihad expecting to sign him.
“At the time, we all believed it was a done deal—Salah was set to join Al-Ittihad,” Bilic said.
Bilic, who was managing Al-Fateh last summer before departing in August, noted that speculation about Salah’s future continues, especially with his Liverpool contract expiring this summer. In January, Salah himself hinted that this could be his final season at the club, having repeatedly expressed frustration over the lack of a new contract agreement.
Bilic expects Salah to eventually make the move to Saudi Arabia, predicting that another massive offer will come his way soon.
“He knows that the opportunity is there whenever he decides to leave Liverpool,” Bilic added. “It’s not a one-time offer—Saudi Arabia is ready for him.”