Saudi Pro League president Michael Emenalo has selected four footballing legends that the league intends to sign during the forthcoming transfer windows.
Emenalo, who was Chelsea’s technical director from 2011 to 2017, was named the Saudi Pro League’s first director of football earlier this year.
The Nigerian had a full plate when he started his new job in July, with the league going on a buying binge that included Neymar, Fabinho, Riyad Mahrez, Aleksandar Mitrovic, and Sadio Mane.
With the January transfer window approaching, the emphasis has shifted to whether the Saudi Pro League can lure Mohamed Salah away from Liverpool.
After having a verbal approach of £150 million rejected by Liverpool in the summer, the Egyptian has scored 11 Premier League goals this season, one fewer than Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.
The Saudi league, according to the Telegraph, would reconsider the arrangement in January if Liverpool did not challenge for the Premier League title, despite the fact that Jurgen Klopp’s team now leads the division by one point over Arsenal.
SPL Still Going All Out For Mo Salah
In an interview with Sky Sports, Emenalo claimed that the Saudi Pro League is still interested in signing Salah – but only if the opportunity occurs.
He also stated that the Saudi Pro League is hoping to sign three more football talents.
He said: “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.
“We also understand that Mo is happy at 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.
“Our position is very clear – any of these players know where we are.
“If there’s any interest in being part of what we are trying to build now or for the future, you can’t turn down an opportunity to see if Kylian Mbappe can join us. Kylian is someone I love as a player.”
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Mbappe’s contract at PSG expires in the summer, and De Bruyne’s future at Manchester City appears to be in doubt.
The Belgian midfielder has not played since the first day of the Premier League season owing to a hamstring injury, but he is close to returning.
TEAMtalk reported in November that Al Ittihad were interested in signing him in January, amid speculation that City could sell at the appropriate price.
Messi, meanwhile, turned down a move to the Saudi Pro League in the summer, instead signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with MLS club Inter Miami. However, it hasn’t prevented the league from wanting to sign him.
