"Salah was not happy with Klopp and in Saudi Arabia everyone expected him to leave"

Mohamed Salah's future has become one of the big talking points in the Premier League this season. It does not look like there is going to be an agreement between Liverpool and the Egyptian player for a renewal and therefore there is a general perception that Salah is facing his last days at the Reds.

However, although interviews have shown the winger's desire to remain at the club, the truth is that his future could have moved away from Anfield just a few months ago. Slaven Bilic, former Croatian player and coach, spoke of how close Salah came to leaving for Saudi Arabia last summer.

Bilic is familiar with the goings-on in the Arab country, having coached Al-Ittihad there for almost half a year between 2018 and 2019, and he confessed to 'talkSPORT's 'The Line Up' that there was a belief among clubs in the country that Salah was going to leave Liverpool because of his poor understanding with Jurgen Klopp.

“I know he was not happy with Jurgen Klopp and there was a feeling that he could leave. All the clubs in the Saudi League were keeping an eye on his situation and would have made him the big star of the competition. As far as I know, Mo Salah was determined to join Al-Ittihad,” Bilic was quoted as saying by the aforementioned source.

Apparently, much of the blame for a possible exit lay in his deteriorating relationship with the German coach, so Salah was grateful for the arrival of Arne Slot, who has brought about a change in the player that has resulted in outstanding performances.

“I wasn't too surprised that he didn't sign for any Saudi club in the end, as it wasn't a question of 'take it or leave it'. Saudi football is always going to be there when he decides to leave Liverpool,” Bilic insisted of the Basyün-born player.

Based on this and other talk, the player's agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, reiterated Salah's commitment to the Reds at X: “If we had wanted to leave Liverpool this year, we would not have renewed for another year last summer. His commitment to the team is total.”

While his future remains uncertain, Arne Slot has repeatedly expressed the wish that he can renew with the Anfield club: “Everyone wants him, we want him too. Of course we want him to renew, but he has enough experience and wisdom to make the best decision for his career, which will hopefully also be the best for us.”