Saudi Arabia's plan for Mohamed Salah in 2024

The name Mohamed Salah remains top of the Saudi Arabia's 'wish list' for 2024, according to a new report.

The 31-year-old Egyptian was targeted by Al Ittihad during the summer transfer window, with the Saudi Pro League champions reportedly offering to make Liverpool's number 11 one of the highest paid footballers on the planet.

However, with Salah under contract until 2025, Liverpool swiftly rejected the sole bid that arrived from Al Ittihad – thought to be worth up to £150m including add-ons – and remained unwavering in their stance until the deadline for transfers passed.

It is widely expected that the Saudi Pro League will not end their interest there, and many have speculated that a transfer next summer could be on the cards, when a deal may ultimately suit all parties.

This time next year, Salah will have less than one year left to run on his contract and a suitably big-money offer from the Middle East would take away Liverpool bosses' headache of deciding whether to offer to extend the terms of the club's highest-paid player of all time well into his mid 30s, or watch him leave on a free transfer in 2025.

Now talkSPORT report that Salah remains firmly 'at the top of wish list' for the PIF-backed Saudi clubs for next year, along with Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne.

This news is unsurprising and not really new.

It has long been understood that Saudi Arabia will continue to throw money at the world's top footballers in order to boost the profile of the Pro League, with Salah a priority target for the obvious dual reasons of his talent and status as the Arab world's biggest sporting superstar.

Whether Liverpool are ready for Salah's departure next summer, however, is another thing entirely.

The Reds' record Premier League goalscorer remains Jurgen Klopp's most important attacker, while he has an impressive seven goal contributions (three goals, four assists) already this season.

Salah netted from the penalty spot in the Reds' 3-1 win over West Ham on Sunday, taking his streak of goal involvements in consecutive Premier League games to 12 – making him the first player to achieve this feat twice.