Jurgen Klopp admits he’s ‘uncomfortable’ and calls Saudi Arabia’s extended transfer window ‘not cool’, as Al-Ittihad lure Mohamed Salah… but says Liverpool will reject bids and star IS ‘100% committed’
- Reports in Spain say there is serious interest from Al-Ittihad in Mohamed Salah
- Liverpool insist their Egyptian star isn’t for sale but deadlines cause a headache
- WATCH: ‘It’s All Kicking Off’ – Episode 2 – Mail Sport’s brand new football show
Jurgen Klopp has insisted Liverpool have received no offers for Mohamed Salah amid reports of strong interest from Saudi Arabia.
But the Reds boss has admitted it’s ‘not cool’ the Saudi transfer window extends beyond the Premier League’s.
It emerged in the Spanish media on Thursday that Saudi club Al-Ittihad want to make the Egyptian forward the highest-paid player in the Saudi Pro League and therefore world football.
Relevo also claimed that Salah, 31, wants to leave Anfield and his entourage have met with Al-Ittihad officials in Dubai.
Liverpool denied that star man Salah is for sale and Klopp reiterated this in his Friday press conference ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Newcastle United.
Jurgen Klopp has insisted Liverpool haven’t received any bids for star player Mohamed Salah
Salah is reportedly being targeted by Al-Ittihad with the Saudi side convinced the player wants to join them
Reports suggest that Al-Ittihad have already met with the player’s entourage in Dubai to discuss a move
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‘It’s difficult to talk about media stories as there’s nothing to talk about from our point of view,’ Klopp said. ‘Mo Salah is a Liverpool player.
‘There’s nothing there. If there was something, the answer would be no [he’s not for sale].
‘My life philosophy is I think about a problem when I have it. At the moment, there’s nothing.
‘I said already if there is something, the answer would be no.’
Asked if Salah was still committed to the Liverpool cause, Klopp replied: ‘100 per cent.’
While the summer transfer window in the Premier League and most of Europe will close on September 1, the one for the Saudi Pro League remains open until September 20.
It means Saudi’s cash-rich clubs can potentially poach Premier League players after the deadline.
On Saudi spending, Klopp added: ‘It’s not cool for us, that’s clear. If we want a player from Wigan, say, we go there and we pay the price. Same in the Bundesliga etc.
Al-Ittihad made headlines by signing Real Madrid star Karim Benzema earlier in the summer
Fabinho (right) joined them from Liverpool earlier in the summer, with N’Golo Kante (left) also at the club
The Saudi side are managed by former Wolves and Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo
‘Now there’s a next level and it’s not great, but this is part of the business. I’m not sure you can change that.
‘What makes it impossible to deal with is our transfer window closes and they stay open. Then we play until January 1 and this is our squad, we have that problem.
‘I remember something like this in Russia a long time ago. That was not completely crazy money.
‘It’s new and challenging. I am pretty sure FIFA could [change the Saudi deadline] but I am not sure they want to.’
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