The ideal solution is for Salah to move to Saudi Arabia.

15/12/2025 19:35:00 soccer

More than 70 minutes as a substitute against Brighton marked Mohamed Salah’s comeback after a dispute with coach Arne Slot. Yet, this might be the last match for the 1992-born striker in a Liverpool shirt.

A week after his shocking comments in the 3-3 draw against Leeds, everyone was waiting to see if Salah would enter the field or endure a third consecutive match without playing a single minute. Joe Gomez’s unexpected injury in the 26th minute opened the door for Salah to come on and assist Ekitike to score twice against Brighton.

That assist helped Salah reach a remarkable milestone by surpassing Wayne Rooney to become the player with the highest combined goals and assists for a single Premier League club, with 188 goals and 89 assists. Salah’s chance to play against Brighton only improved after a candid talk with Slot. However, more than 70 minutes on the pitch failed to ease doubts about the 33-year-old forward’s future. He will return to the Egyptian national team for the AFCON campaign, leaving questions about whether the 2-0 victory over Brighton will be his final game for Liverpool.

The relationship between Salah and Slot is difficult to mend long-term, as the Dutch coach is determined to rejuvenate Liverpool’s attack with summer newcomers like Isak, Ekitike, and Wirtz. If Salah agrees to stay, he would only be used as a substitute. This is hard for the 1992-born striker to accept, as he wants regular starts to ensure peak fitness for the 2026 World Cup with Egypt.

The win against Brighton could be Salah’s last appearance in a Liverpool jersey.

Liverpool does not want to keep Salah for too long since they are paying him a weekly wage of £400,000 with a contract lasting until summer 2027. Moving Salah on would help the reigning Premier League champions significantly reduce their wage bill and open the door for blockbuster transfers next year. Former player Gary Neville sees similarities between Salah’s case and Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from Manchester United at the end of 2022 after disagreements with Erik ten Hag.

So, which club is ready to take Salah if he wants to leave? It is tough for the Egyptian striker to continue his career in Europe, as the continent’s big clubs either have enough forwards or cannot afford his sky-high salary. Salah has only one feasible choice: to play in the Saudi Pro League. Al-Ittihad made a £150 million offer for the Egyptian forward two years ago but failed, and Al-Hilal considered signing him before the FIFA Club World Cup but withdrew later. Clubs like Al-Hilal, NEOM FC, and Al-Qadsiah are prepared to make a move if Salah confirms his intention to leave Liverpool soon.

If Salah leaves Liverpool for the Saudi Pro League, it would be a good deal for multiple parties. Liverpool does not want veterans like Salah or Van Dijk to slow down the team’s rebuilding process. Salah would still have the opportunity to prolong his top-level career, much like Ronaldo did at Al-Nassr, while also earning more. The Saudi Pro League has become a preferred destination for Liverpool players to finish their careers, including Sadio Mane, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, and Roberto Firmino.

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