Liverpool have categorically ruled out a January exit for Mohamed Salah, with renowned transfer authority David Ornstein confirming that the club’s "full intention" is for the Egyptian superstar to complete the 2025/26 campaign at Anfield. However, the update comes with a significant caveat regarding his long-term future under Arne Slot.
According to the latest report from Yahoo Sports (via The Athletic), Fenway Sports Group (FSG) and sporting director Richard Hughes have decided that destabilising the squad mid-season by selling their highest earner is not a viable option, even amidst the current tactical friction.
The Contract Reality vs The Slot Rift
The narrative surrounding Salah has shifted dramatically since he signed a lucrative contract extension in April 2025, a deal that ties him to the club until June 2027. What was supposed to be a victory lap for the club legend has turned into a tactical power struggle.
Ornstein’s update clarifies that despite Salah being dropped to the bench for three consecutive matches prior to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Liverpool will not countenance a sale this month. The report states: “Despite recent uncertainty, the Egypt attacker is fully expected to finish the campaign at Anfield. It will be hoped his situation then settles down.”
This effectively kills any notion of a shock January switch to the Saudi Pro League, despite renewed interest from Al-Ittihad. However, Ornstein notes that if the "problems remain" regarding his playing time and relationship with Slot, conversations about "parting ways early" could take place this summer.
AFCON as a Circuit Breaker?
For Liverpool, the current timing is awkward yet potentially beneficial. Salah is currently in Morocco with the Egyptian national team, preparing for a semi-final clash against Senegal. This absence acts as a natural "circuit breaker" for the tension at the AXA Training Centre.
There is a hope within the club that a successful tournament could reinvigorate the 33-year-old. Before his departure, Salah’s form had dipped, with Slot preferring a more energetic press from the front—a tactical demand that led to the forward’s public complaint about feeling "thrown under the bus" after the recent defeat to Leeds United.
The Summer Betting Market
While a January move is off the table, the betting markets for the summer are already reacting. If Salah returns from AFCON and finds himself back on the bench behind Federico Chiesa or Diogo Jota, the odds on a 2026 exit will shorten drastically.
The Mohamed Salah next club odds suggest that while Saudi Arabia remains the most likely destination, there is growing interest from European giants who believe they can offer him one last dance at the elite level—something he clearly feels he is still capable of delivering.
For now, the message from Ornstein is clear: Salah stays. But for the first time in his Liverpool career, his presence feels like a marriage of convenience rather than one of undisputed love.