Jurgen Klopp makes Mohamed Salah admission amid Al-Ittihad links
Jurgen Klopp believes Mohamed Salah is still committed to Liverpool amid claims that his head has been turned due to an offer from Al-Ittihad.
According to The Athletic's David Ornstein, Liverpool swiftly turned down a bid in excess of £100m from the Saudi Pro League champions, indicating that they had no intention of parting with their star man. However, the report also states that Al-Ittihad could return with an improved offer for Salah in the coming days.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Liverpool's Premier League clash against Aston Villa, Klopp simply said 'no offer as far as I know' when quizzed on Al-Ittihad's reported bid. When pressed on the subject again by reporters for the Saturday newspapers, Klopp said that everything was fine with Salah, pouring cold water over claims that his head has been turned by Saudi's riches.
He said (quotes via journalist Andy Hunter's Twitter account): “Mo is super committed, really in training fully there, and in the leadership meetings this week he was fully in. I have to deal with facts, and my fact is ‘All good, we are here and everything is fine.’”
Salah has just under two years left on his current Liverpool deal and is undoubtedly the club's best attacker. Losing him with barely any time left to sign a replacement before the transfer deadline would've been disastrous for Klopp, who believes the Egyptian hasn't downed tools amid reports of an eye-watering contract offer from Al-Ittihad.
However, the transfer saga is far from finished, as the Saudi Pro League champions continue their pursuit of Salah. Liverpool stood firm this summer as Al-Ittihad's bid arrived in the dying embers of the transfer window, but if they were to offer a similar fee 12 months from now for a 32-year-old with just one year left on his deal, the Reds could be forced to cash in on the Egyptian for the greater good.