Saudi Pro League director explains what must happen for Mohamed Salah transfer

Saudi Pro League director Michael Emenalo has confirmed they will only reignite their pursuit of Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah if the Egyptian makes it clear he wants the move immediately.

Salah was identified as a top target for the division when Saudi officials began their spree of heavy investment and Al Ittihad saw a verbal offer of £150m rejected by Liverpool during the summer transfer window.

Despite the Saudi chiefs indicating a willingness to spend over £200m and make Salah the most expensive player in history, Liverpool held firm and refused to part ways with the Egyptian, forcing Emenalo to reconsider his pursuit of Salah.

"Mo Salah, like [Lionel] Messi, [Karim] Benzema, [Cristiano] Ronaldo and the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, these are players that when there is a sense of availability for them, we are willing to listen," Emenalo told Sky Sports News.

"But we also understand that Mo is happy where he is at present and in a historic, wonderful club at Liverpool. We respect that very much and we don't want to come across as putting any pressure on him.

"But if there is any interest to do something, Mo Salah is a player that you want in your league, in any league."

On the prospects of a January transfer, Emenalo added: "We respect Liverpool and in this scenario, the initiative to do anything won't come from us. There has to be an aligned interest from all parties involved.

"It's a very personal thing, as a player that I recruited [for Chelsea] and I like. There's nothing I'm saying that is new or ground-breaking - that a player of this level of talent is available and your league wants him.

"If Mo Salah is available, has an interest to come and everything is aligned, I would be incredibly delighted."

Salah will enter the final 18 months of his contract in January and will turn 32 at the end of the current campaign.

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