Sources: “Positive” talks held as Liverpool star opens door to surprise transfer

We already know salah-replacements">Mohamed Salah will be leaving Liverpool this summer, but I’ve received some interesting information about a surprise next destination for the Egyptian superstar.

Salah, as I understand it, is really keen to continue playing at the highest level, which may pave the way for a move to Fenerbahce.

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Sources in the industry are still also talking up strong interest from Saudi Pro League clubs, with Al Nassr particularly keen. Al Hilal, Al Ahli, and Al Qadsiah are also all interested, though previous talks with Al Ittihad are now understood to be on hold.

Salah could make huge money if he moves to Saudi, with clubs there ready to offer the 33-year-old a staggering $30m a year, plus a $20m signing-on bonus.

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My sources tell me there has been an “informal offer” made to Salah during initial talks, with the Liverpool star indicating he’d be prepared to accept a salary in the region of €12-13m a year in order to keep on playing in Europe.

Salah has not necessarily entirely ruled out Saudi yet, but his priority is to continue with an ambitious sporting project, as he feels he’s not done at this level just yet.

“Salah is hugely ambitious, at the moment I don’t see him going to Saudi,” one source explained. “Fenerbahce have had some initial talks and it’s looking positive.”

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Other sources confirmed this, and although it’s still early, it’s looking likely that we could see Salah continuing his career in Turkey.

Still, it’s easy to imagine he could extend his top-level career in a slightly weaker league, though a move to Fenerbahce would also present him with a chance to play in the Champions League.

It will be interesting to see how this pans out, but a lot of top players have done well with spells in Turkish football late on in their careers.

One imagines Salah could spend a year or two continuing at this level before perhaps moving to Saudi after that, but it’s also surely the case that Saudi clubs will continue to push really hard to win the race for his signature this summer.