THE FUSE

Liverpool previously rejected a £150m bid from Al-Ittihad in 2024 and Salah himself has admitted negotiations with SPL officials were “serious” before he chose to renew his deal at Anfield last summer. This means that any revived move would now require a transfer fee rather than a free signing, making the timing of Salah’s current benching even more significant. His contract, which runs until 2027, ensures Liverpool remain in control, but the optics of Salah being dropped have shifted the power dynamic.