Sources have told ESPN that Liverpool have rejected a £150m ($190m) bid for Mohamed Salah from Saudi club Al-Ittihad.
Salah, 31, has been subjected to intense speculation linking him to the Saudi champions in recent weeks, despite Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp’s insistence that the player will not be allowed to leave Anfield.
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But while Liverpool said they were aware of Al-Ittihad’s interest in the Egyptian international, no official offer was made to sign the former Chelsea and Roma striker.
The Etihad finally made their move on Friday morning, offering an initial £100m for Salah with added incentives which would make him worth an eventual £150m for Liverpool.
But sources have told ESPN that Salah’s offer has been rejected and the matter is closed, with a Liverpool source telling ESPN that “the player is not for sale”.
Al-Ittihad was keen to sign Salah along with Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, who joined the Jeddah-based club from Real Madrid as a free agent earlier this summer.
Salah would also have linked up with former Liverpool teammate Fabinho, who left Anfield for Al Ittihad during this transfer window, but Liverpool ruled out any possibility of a deal.
Liverpool manager Klopp said earlier on Friday that he was still concerned about the threat posed by Saudi clubs, with the transfer window still open until mid-September.
Salah, who has a contract with Liverpool until June 2025, has not yet commented on the federation’s interest.
