Saudi Arabia ‘plot Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah raid’ as Prem fears spike

Liverpool: Klopp wants solution on length of Saudi Arabian transfer window

Saudi Arabia are targeting Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah next as the nation continues its huge spending frenzy that has seen the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante make the move along with a host of Premier League stars. The ambitious plan is not set to end this summer and clubs will be fearing that their top players could continue to leave for Saudi.

The Mirror have claimed that though unlikely to make the Middle East switch this summer, De Bruyne and Salah are being eyed as top Saudi targets for 2024 – forcing Manchester City and Liverpool to fret that their key men could be tempted away by the nation’s riches, as both teams have been impacted by the spending spree.

Jurgen Klopp has seen his captain Jordan Henderson and midfield partner Fabinho leave for Al Ettifaq and Al Ittihad respectively, while Pep Guardiola lost Riyad Mahrez to Al Ahli. Now with De Bruyne and Salah targeted, some of the biggest clubs in world football have to worry about holding onto their best players.

The Premier League’s summer transfer deadline day is on September 1 but another major concern is that Saudi business can still take place for another 19 days, leaving clubs vulnerable to losing players without being able to replace them.

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The Daily Mail have claimed that Prem teams are set to lobby FIFA over ending the Saudi window earlier after concerns raised by Guardiola and Klopp, but it remains to be seen whether that will come to fruition.

“Saudi Arabia has changed the market,” Guardiola said upon Mahrez’s exit. “A few months ago, when Cristiano [Ronaldo] was the only one to go, no one thought this many top, top players would play in the Saudi league. In the future there will be more and that’s why clubs need to be aware of what is happening. Riyad got an incredible offer [from Al-Ahli] and that’s why we could not say ‘don’t do it’.”

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Klopp echoed his concerns: “The influence of Saudi Arabia is massive at the moment. Pretty much the worst thing is that the transfer window in Saudi Arabia is open three weeks longer.

“If I am right, I heard something like that, then at least in Europe that’s not helpful. UEFA or FIFA must find solutions for that. It’s already influential for us but we will have to learn to deal with it.”

Salah and De Bruyne both have contracts until 2025 with their respective clubs, but with both entering the twilight of their careers, they may be viewing their next deal as their last – with Saudi teams set to rival the English giants.

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