Mo Salah contract news: Liverpool forward being lined up by Al Hilal for transfer as Neymar replacement

Al Hilal are ready to offer Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah a lucrative contract if he wants to leave Europe and play in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi champions are looking for a high-profile signing to replace Neymar.

Neymar's contract runs out at the end of this season and Al Hilal can offer to make Salah one of the star names at the expanded Club World Cup in the USA in June and July.

Salah will be a free agent this summer and he has been free to talk to foreign clubs since the start of this month.

Liverpool rejected a £150m offer for Salah from Al Ittihad in August 2023.

One of the most powerful figures in Saudi sport, Turki Alalshikh, posted a mocked-up picture on Facebook on Wednesday of Salah in an Al Hilal shirt.

Alalshikh is the chair of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority and is close to the Kingdom's de-facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Alalshikh has masterminded Saudi Arabia's huge investment in boxing but he is also known to have links with Al Hilal.

Salah, who will be 33 in June, believes he is still at his peak and can continue to play at the highest level in Europe.

Livesport VIP News' chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol:

"When it comes to Salah and Saudi Arabia, it's a case of once bitten, twice shy. The Saudis tried 18 months ago to sign Salah.

"Al Ittihad made a bid that was supposed to be worth up to £150m but that was rejected and Salah decided to stay at Liverpool. They've always been very careful since then about making another move for Salah.

"What we've consistently been told is if Salah wants to go to Saudi Arabia, his representatives need to get in touch and they will make it happen. They would love to have Salah playing in the Saudi Pro League.

"Al Hilal, who are the champions and biggest club at the moment, have Neymar who is out of contract at the end of the season. They're looking for a replacement. His time there hasn't gone to plan. But they would only make a move if Salah feels now is the time to leave Europe."

Speaking to Livesport VIP after his player-of-the-match display in Liverpool's 5-0 thrashing of West Ham on December 29, Salah said he was still "far away" from agreeing a new contract with Liverpool - and he reiterated the same thing in an interview earlier this month.

When asked if he really believes this is his last season at the club, he told Livesport VIP' Patrick Davison: "So far, yes. It's the last six months. There is no progress there. We are far away from any progress. So, we just need to wait and see."

When asked how he has kept his focus, he replied: "The thing in my head is that if this is the last six months, what do you want to see in the future?

"Do you want to look back and say 'I was concerned or stressed about the contract?' Or do you just want to say 'I had an unbelievable season?' That's what is in my head.

"If I ever feel distraction, I just remind myself I want to look back and say I had an unbelievable season. That's what I want to do."

Liverpool manager Arne Slot:

"In general, I don't talk about contract situations here. It would be a surprise if I was the one to announce that one of them has extended.

"Keep asking, that's your job, but you're probably not going to get an answer from me.

"It's clear that from January 1, maybe for you guys, things change a lot, but they are in constant talks with the club and let's wait and see what happens.

"As long as they keep performing like this, the head coach is happy."

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp:

"I'm so happy they're doing well, I'm in contact with Arne [Slot] and some players texting. There's 0.1 per cent thinking I should still be there as they are doing so well.

"I am watching as many games as I can as it is such good football, maybe the best-balanced team in the world right now.

"I am so happy I am not in charge right now to answer these questions and from my point of view, I hope all three extend, but they did not tell me."

Latest from Livesport VIP News' Vinny O'Connor:

Trent Alexander-Arnold is another Liverpool star approaching the end of his contract and despite reports from Spain claiming an agreement had been reached with Real Madrid, Livesport VIP News understands the defender has not verbally agreed a pre-contract to join the LaLiga giants at the end of the season.

The Reds turned down an approach from Madrid just before the window opened but like Salah, Alexander-Arnold is free to negotiate with foreign clubs after entering the final six months of his deal.