'We never thought about it' - Klopp reacts to Saudi's Salah pursuit

Jurgen Klopp claims he "never thought about" Mohamed Salah's potential transfer to Saudi Arabia over the summer, stating the Egyptian never "wanted to go". 

Al Ittihad set about luring Salah to the Saudi Pro League late in last summer's transfer window, with reports suggesting that they were willing to table a £215m bid to capture the winger's signature.

There were suggestions that Salah was set to leave Anfield and become the most well-paid player in world football, but Liverpool were insistent that the 31-year-old was not for sale.

The fact that Al Ittihad's advances came so late in the window meant a deal would have been borderline impossible, but Klopp would have been resistant to letting Liverpool's No. 11 leave regardless.

While Salah remains of interest to Saudi Arabia, the Reds' decision to rebuff any summer bids has been thoroughly rewarded already. The Liverpool icon has already netted ten goals and provided four assists in 14 appearances for the club this season and has just been nominated for October's Player of the Month in the Premier League.

When quizzed about Salah's potential summer Saudi move prior to Liverpool's clash with Luton Town, Klopp reiterated that the attacker's departure was never an option, with the former Roma man still extremely happy to be on Merseyside.

"I don’t know anything about an offer [from Saudi Arabia] or whatever, but it’s not important," Klopp said. "Mo is here. Mo never came to me and wanted to go. I didn’t think a second about it, to be honest, should we [sell him] or not, or whatever. So yes, he's here.

"He feels extremely well, you can see that he enjoys the team a lot, played 105 minutes [against Nottingham Forest] and then he played as a No. 9 [against Bournemouth], enjoyed that as well."

He added: "Yes, good shape, on the pitch, goalscoring-wise, everybody can see that. Off the pitch, he’s in even better shape, I would say. He’s really positive.

"He enjoys the company of the boys and sees that there is a lot of potential, and wants to maximise that by getting something out of it.

"But the other stuff, we never thought about it, and I hope I don’t have to."

Salah will undoubtedly be the subject of rumours linking him with Saudi Arabia this January and next summer, with the Egyptian thought to be the ultimate prize for the Pro League.

However, Liverpool and Klopp remain defiant - Salah is not for sale.