Saudi media personality Waleed Al-Faraj has questioned whether Mohamed Salah remains a viable transfer target for clubs in the Saudi Pro League, suggesting the competition is moving away from high-profile, high-cost signings.
His comments come amid ongoing speculation about Salah’s future following confirmation that he will leave Liverpool FC at the end of the current season after nine years.
Reports had indicated that the Egyptian forward rejected a lucrative offer to move to Saudi Arabia in favour of continuing his career in Europe. However, Al-Faraj dismissed those claims, arguing that they do not reflect the current reality of the league’s transfer approach.
“I think the news is inaccurate. High financial offers for players in the Saudi league are a thing of the past,” he said.
Al-Faraj suggested that clubs are now reassessing their recruitment strategies, with a stronger focus on younger players rather than established stars in the later stages of their careers.
“Clubs’ plans in the upcoming summer period will focus on players under 30 years old. Salah is a big star and an asset to any league, but he was a suitable option in 2023-2024 and not 2027.”
His remarks point to what appears to be a broader shift in policy across the league, following a period in which Saudi clubs attracted global attention through high-value deals for some of football’s biggest names.
According to Al-Faraj, financial backing for clubs is also expected to change, with tighter controls and more measured spending anticipated in the coming transfer window.
“I think the funding that the fund will provide to the clubs that are still under its ownership will be very different from previous seasons,” he explained.
He added that clubs are already adapting to these changes internally. “Clubs have begun restructuring their staff, reducing numbers, cutting budgets, and being more rigorous in spending. Your ambitions for the summer shouldn’t be too high; options will be limited, and spending will be rationalised.”
The comments come at a time when Salah is widely expected to attract interest from across Europe. Among the clubs reportedly linked with the forward is Fenerbahçe SK, as he considers his next move ahead of the summer transfer window.
While Salah’s future remains undecided, Al-Faraj’s remarks underline a potential turning point in the Saudi Pro League’s transfer strategy. Rather than pursuing established global stars with record-breaking offers, clubs may instead be entering a phase focused on sustainability and long-term squad building.
If that approach is confirmed in the months ahead, it could significantly reshape perceptions of the league’s ambitions and its role in the global transfer market, particularly for players of Salah’s profile.
