Klopp admits Premier League clubs are powerless to stop mega Saudi transfers as Salah is targeted in record £200m deal
JURGEN KLOPP admits Prem giants are powerless to stop Saudi mega-money transfers as the Liverpool boss fights to keep Mo Salah.
Posted Saturday, September 02, 2023 by Thesun.co.uk
Al-Ittihad made an eye-watering second bid of £170MILLION for talisman Salah on Friday night just hours after the Reds rejected an opening offer worth £150m.
Jurgen Klopp has admitted Premier League clubs are powerless to stop Saudi bids
Mo Salah could be set for a move to the Middle East
Liverpool are adamant Salah is not for sale but the Saudi Pro League side are willing to go as high as a world-record £200m.
The British window has closed but the Anfield hierarchy's resolve will be tested to the limit because the Saudi Pro League window is open until Thursday.
Klopp said: "The next week will show how much of a challenge it is.
Because no one can react anymore. Uefa or whoever should have an eye on this to sort it because we all have to protect the game.
"It feels more of a threat than not. I can't see how we can deny it. What can we do? The contracts are that big and that causes problems. Definitely. 100 per cent.
"We need to ensure the European leagues stay as strong as they are. Maybe we can change some rules or laws slightly?
"We're all surprised still by the activity of Saudi Arabia. A lot of players have gone there."
SunSport understands Salah, 31, has been offered a staggering £2.3m a week to make the monster move to the Middle East.
The second bid was worth an initial £145m plus £25m in add-ons.
Neymar's £198m switch from Barcelona to PSG in 2017 is the current world record — and the Brazil star, 31, is another who has taken the Saudi riches after joining Al-Hilal.
Speaking on Friday morning, Klopp said he was unaware of the opening bid for Salah.
He said: "The position remains the same. Nothing else to say."
Liverpool are adamant they will stand firm because they will not be able to find a replacement until January for Salah who signed a new three-year contract last summer.
But Al-Ittihad, who have already landed Salah's former Anfield team-mate Fabinho, are confident they can prise him away.
They reckon Egyptian Salah, an Arabic speaker and devout Muslim, can be swayed by the chance to become one of Saudi's leading stars.
The £150m deal, which consists of an initial fee of over £100m plus add-ons, was made in a phone call to FSG president Mike Gordon on Thursday night.
Reds keeper Alisson and defender Ibrahima Konate were also wanted by Saudi clubs but both have decided to stay.
As well as Fabinho, the Reds sold former skipper Jordan Henderson to Al-Ettifaq, while Roberto Firmino left on a free transfer to join Al-Ahli.
On Friday night, Liverpool were close to completing the signing of Ryan Gravenberch in a £34.2m deal.
Bayern Munich's Dutch midfielder, 21, landed on Merseyside on Friday to undergo a medical ahead of a five-year contract.
His boss Thomas Tuchel said: "He wasn't happy with his situation here. The outcome's clear."
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