Arne Slot has addressed Saudi Arabia’s renewed interest in Mohamed Salah.
The country’s sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal admitted that the Liverpool talisman was a ‘big prize’ for their lucrative Pro League.
Salah previously attracted interest from the Kingdom in the summer 2023 transfer window, when Anfield chiefs rejected a £150 million bid from Al-Ittihad.
Bu as his current Reds contract ticks down into its final months, Slot took a typically considered view on Friday over the Egyptian’s long-term future.
He said: “I would be surprised if there was anyone wherever around the world saying ‘we don’t want Mo Salah‘.
“He’s doing so well for so many years that everyone probably wants him. He has done so well without my advice for a long time.
“So he can probably keep doing what is best for his career even without my advice.
“But my advice to him would be different to the one [man] you just mentioned.
“Everyone wants him, including us. We want him to extend, of course – that is clear.
“I am not surprised that Saudi wants him, but I would not be surprised if other countries wanted him as well.
“He is old enough and wise enough and done so many smart things in his career he will make the right decision for himself and hopefully for us as well.”
Slot also hinted Federico Chiesa could be given extended game time after coming through Wednesday’s Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven.
The Italy winger played the entirety of Liverpool’s defeat in the Netherlands which still saw them finish as winners despite losing their 100% record.
“Of course he is ready for more minutes in the Premier League,” admitted Slot.
“Because if he can play 90 [minutes] at Champions League level then you are able to play an amount of minutes in the Premier League.
“His main problem, if you want to call it a problem, is that he is in competition with Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo, Mo Salah and Diogo Jota.
“I think you’ll agree with me that they are doing quite well also. But it’s very good for us that it was six or seven months ago, he said, against Switzerland [for Italy] when they lost in the Euros was the last time he played 90 minutes.
“So it’s very good from him, but definitely also from our performance staff that we’ve during training sessions got him to the point that he’s able to play 90 minutes, without a lot of friendlies or whatever.”