The next few days are likely to be every bit the struggle manager Jurgen Klopp foresaw.
Liverpool is resolved to reject future bids from Al-Ittihad for Mohamed Salah.
The Saudi Pro League offered a £150 million agreement for the Egypt international, but Mike Gordon, president of owners Fenway Sports Group, politely but firmly rejected the offer and proclaimed the situation over as far as the club was concerned.
The very real possibility exists that Al-Ittihad would make a second bid with an enhanced offer, which would have an even more destabilizing impact, as long as the Pro League’s transfer window is open until Thursday.
Due to the fact that “nobody (in Europe) can react any more,” Klopp once more highlighted his alarm about the discrepancy.
The Egyptian’s agent Ramy Abbas tweeted on August 7 in response to the Saudis’ first interest in the 31-year-old: “If we considered leaving LFC this year, we wouldn’t have renewed the contract last summer. Mohamed continues to support LFC.
Abbas has not been as open this time around, and even while the Salah bid has probably overshadowed the preparations for Aston Villa’s visit on Sunday, Klopp claimed to have seen what Salah had been offered.
The events of this week, however, appear to be the beginning of a protracted farewell for Salah, who will be 32 next summer and in the final year of his £350,000-per-week contract, making him easily the highest-paid player in the history of the club, and with Liverpool more likely to be open to a sale at that time.
While Salah’s concentration has never been in question—he has 138 goals in 221 Premier League games—Klopp also thinks that fellow attacker Darwin Nunez has a fresh desire after his game-winning two-goal cameo at Newcastle last week.
“Major, major, that’s obvious. The Uruguayan international, who started the season as our No. 1 pick, wants that, and that’s what we want, according to Klopp.
Jota or Gakpo up front?
“Being a huge threat is precisely how it should have been. Of course, the following day you could see it. However, everyone could sense it.
This season, Villa has excelled under Unai Emery as they have won four straight games in all competitions following an opening-day loss at Newcastle.
“Aston Villa is a machine; they counterattack well-organizedly, with everyone giving it their all. When they defend deeply, they do so fully and move forward, according to Klopp.
