Mohamed Salah has opened talks about leaving Liverpool to join Al Ittihad this summer, according to Santi Aouna.
The Reds winger had a record-breaking season last year as he led the team to their second Premier League title, before signing a new two-year contract in the summer to extend his stay at Anfield and put an end to speculation over his future.
However, a poor start to this season saw the Egyptian dropped from the team, which sparked a major outburst from the player towards the manager and board about his situation. That has raised more question marks over his future, and it now seems like an exit could take place this summer.
Salah In Talks to Join Al Ittihad
Salah, who is considered one of Liverpool’s greatest ever players, was expected to leave the club in the winter window following his outburst, but held talks with the club to clear the air before heading off to the African Cup of Nations with Egypt.
Since returning to Anfield, ‘world-class’ Salah has started every game, but the team continues to struggle on the pitch and currently sit in sixth place in the Premier League table, five points off a top four place.
Arne Slot has confirmed that missing out on Champions League football would have a major effect on the club’s financial situation, and with Salah struggling to perform, an exit could be on the cards, with Saudi clubs once again circling ahead of another transfer window.
With question marks over his future, Salah has allowed his agent to negotiate with Saudi giants Al Ittihad, who are keen to replace Karim Benzema, and the player is much more open to a move to the Middle East this summer than he was last time around.
It’s understood that all parties are open to making the move happen, with Liverpool happy to take a transfer fee rather than lose him for free 12 months later too.
Liverpool Ready to Let Salah Go
Salah’s achievements at Liverpool cannot and will not be ignored going forward, but it’s fair to say that the decline since last season is more than evident, and it’s probably the right time for him to move on.
A move to Saudi seems to suit everyone this summer, and with talks already opened, it now looks likely to happen relatively early on in the transfer window, rather than dragging on for a long period of time.
Replacing him will be incredibly difficult, but there is plenty of time for them to make plans and identify the right candidate, and Salah is clearly well aware of what is going on this time too.
Arsenal already know their top two targets as they look to strengthen out wide this summer. The Gunners have two clear priorities during this window in terms of positions, with a left-winger and a number 8 on the shopping list for Andrea Berta and Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners need to find clear upgrades this summer as they look to take the next step in Europe as well as staying ahead of their Premier League rivals. Arsenal are expected to spend big again this summer after huge spending over the last couple of years, and their primary target alone could cost them well over £100million, with a British-record transfer being mooted.
Romano explains order of Arsenal’s main winger targets
Caean Couto (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
Speaking on his YouTube show, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano said: “(Bradley) Barcola is also appreciated by Arsenal, but he’s not position number one. Position number one is Morgan Rogers, position number two is Barcola, and there are more options in terms of wingers, so that’s the situation at Arsenal, then it’s important to mention for Paris Saint-Germain [he] is not untouchable because the new contract talks are completely, completely on standby, standby for long time. So Barcola and PSG, at the moment, there is no agreement over new deal, and also it is important to say PSG would ask important money, so who’s going to sign Barcola?”
Rogers is likely to cost well over £100million this summer, and there are reports he could cost a British-record £130million. Aston Villa are very reluctant to sell, and there is every chance Arsenal could turn to Barcola.
Barcola a cheaper option than Rogers
Action Images
The latest report is that Barcola can leave PSG for around £77million, which would make him a much cheaper signing than Rogers, even if the wages are likely to be very big.
The Frenchman has been an important player for PSG, scoring 13 times last season, but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has kept him out of his best position on the left. Kvaratskhelia is likely the best left winger in the world currently, so Barcola is unlikely to see any change in Luis Enrique’s plans any time soon.
Barcola is still only 23 years of age, so he could be a player whose value could yet rise if he continues his current trajectory. Meanwhile, Rogers’ cost means Arsenal will likely never make their money back, but the young England talent is a proven Premier League commodity who arguably has a bigger ceiling.
Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes has told the club he wishes to leave this summer to join Arsenal, according to David Ornstein.
The Magpies have already sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona for £70m, while Sandro Tonali completed a £100m move to Tottenham Hotspur this week, with Eddie Howe looking to rebuild his squad.
But they have now been rocked by the wishes of the Brazil international, with the Gunners ready to make a mega bid to take him to north London.
Bruno Guimaraes Tells Newcastle He Wants to Join Arsenal
via Reuters
Guimaraes has just finished representing Brazil at the World Cup, where he enjoyed an excellent tournament but couldn’t help the five-time winners past the Round of 16, where they were eliminated by Erling Haaland’s Norway side.
But he has now informed Newcastle bosses that he wishes to leave this summer after the club failed to qualify for Europe, and he wants to join Arsenal in the summer window.
The Gunners have made it clear they would be willing to pay up to £60m for the 28-year-old, and are now preparing to make a formal offer. No club-to-club contact has been made yet, although Arsenal did have a verbal enquiry worth around £55m rejected by the Magpies earlier this month.
Manchester United have reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign midfielder Andrey Santos, according to David Ornstein.
The Red Devils have been in the market to bolster their midfield options this summer, but missed out on deals to sign their top targets Elliot Anderson and Matheus Fernandes, after they moved to Man City and Tottenham Hotspur for £116m and £85m respectively.
But INEOS have now secured their second midfield signing of the summer after agreeing a fee with Premier League rivals Chelsea for the Brazil international.
Man Utd Agree £50m Deal to Sign Andrey Santos
Santos, who has been described as ‘world-class’, has been a long-term target for INEOS, and a deal has now been struck worth a fixed fee of £48m, plus a further £2m in easily achievable add-ons for the 22-year-old.
Personal terms are already in place, and permission has now been given to the midfielder to undergo a medical before putting pen to paper on a long-term contract at Old Trafford. Chelsea have also secured a 10% sell-on clause as part of the deal.
