Liverpool transfer news: Fabrizio Romano on Saudis' Mo Salah dream

Mohamed Salah remains a 'dream' for the Saudi Pro League, but there is no 'concrete' interest ahead of the January transfer window, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Liverpool's record Premier League goalscorer was the subject of a bid worth up to £150m from Al Ittihad over the summer – an offer which was dismissed out of hand by the Reds' hierarchy.

With Salah's current contract due to expire in 2025, there is an expectation that Saudi Pro League clubs will try again to lure the forward, with Liverpool perhaps more open to a sale in 2024.

However, the chances of a mid-season deal appear slim to none, with Salah in fine form for Liverpool – who sit top of the Premier League table after 19 games.

In his Daily Briefing for CaughtOffside, transfer reporter Romano – initially discussing Steven Gerrard's Al Ettifaq – reiterated the unlikelihood of Salah moving in the January transfer window.

He wrote: "I’m not aware of specific names yet for Steven Gerrard at Al Ettifaq, but for sure it will be a busy January for them. There will be many signings and the number will depend on the opportunities. Gerrard told the board in a very clear way, both in private and public, that he needs new players.

"The situation is very quiet with Mo Salah and a Saudi switch, however. Salah is fully focused on Liverpool as they’re flying in all competitions, but the Saudis still like him obviously and they still dream of Salah for their project. This is not something concrete for the January transfer window."

Speaking earlier this month, Michael Emenalo – the Saudi Pro League's director of football and man who oversaw Salah's transfer to Chelsea from Basle in 2014 – suggested that there will be no Saudi advance for Salah in January.

"We respect Liverpool and in this scenario, the initiative to do anything [in January] won't come from us," Emenalo said.

“There has to be an aligned interest from all parties involved. It's a very personal thing, as a player that I recruited [for Chelsea] and I like.

“There's nothing I'm saying that is new or ground-breaking - that a player of this level of talent is available and your league wants him.

"If Mo Salah is available, has an interest to come and everything is aligned, I would be incredibly delighted."

Salah has 16 goals and seven assists so far this season and remains Liverpool's most important attacker.

Earlier this season, Jurgen Klopp described the 31-year-old of having the body of a 19-year-old, with many inferring that the forward could yet be offered a contract extension at Anfield beyond 2025.