Liverpool player 'wanted to leave club until Jurgen Klopp quit' as bombshell claim about relationship emerges

A former Premier League manager has claimed an 'unhappy' Mohamed Salah was ready to join Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad before Jurgen Klopp announced his Liverpool exit.

On the final day of the 2023 summer window, Al Ittihad made their intentions clear with an offer worth £100 million plus 'substantial add-ons' for Salah.

At the time, Liverpool and manager Jurgen Klopp were adamant that the Egyptian winger was not for sale, while the player's agent Ramy Abbas Issa reiterated his client's commitment to the Premier League club.

"If we considered leaving LFC this year, we wouldn’t have renewed the contract last summer," said Issa on X, formerly Twitter. "Mohamed remains committed to LFC."

According to a report from CBS Sports, Al Ittihad were prepared to make Salah one of the highest-paid players in world football with a salary package that was comparable with Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Now, former West Ham boss Slaven Bilic – who managed Al Ittihad for five months between September 2018 and February 2019 – has opened up on the Saudi club's interest, as well as Salah being 'unhappy' under Klopp.

Speaking on The LineUp, brought to you by BetMGM, Bilic said: "There has definitely been a change this season under Arne Slot as, having been in Saudi Arabia last year, I know he wasn’t happy under Jurgen Klopp and we were expecting him to move.

“The whole of Saudi was ready for him and he would have been the star of the league. As far as we were all concerned, it was done and Mo Salah was going to join Al-Ittihad."

Bilic added: "I wasn’t surprised he didn’t move, though. He knows the move is there for him when he wants to leave Liverpool. It’s not a one-year 'take it or leave it' project in Saudi.”

Salah's uncertain future at Liverpool continues to be a big talking poing in 2025. Back in January, the Premier League's top scorer said the club were "far away from any progress" over a new deal.

Salah during Jurgen Klopp's final Liverpool training session on May 18, 2024. Image credit: Getty

Slot, meanwhile, has expressed his desire to work with Salah beyond this season.

"Everybody wants him, including us," said Slot. "We want him to extend of course as well - that is clear. I'm not surprised that Saudi want him but I wouldn't be surprised if other countries want him as well.

"He's old enough and wise enough, and has done so many smart things in his career, that he will make the right decision for himself and, hopefully, for us as well."

SPORTbible has reached out to Salah's representatives for comment.