Saudi TV rights boost is blow to Liverpool's hopes of keeping Mohamed Salah

There will be endless speculation regarding Mohamed Salah’s future until the 32-year-old either commits his future to Liverpool or announces that he has decided to leave. With his position as the joint-eighth highest paid player in Europe’s big five leagues (per FBRef), there are not that many clubs to whom he could move.

The Saudi Pro League will likely always remain a realistic option though. A forthcoming change in its broadcasting situation will only increase their financial pulling power for Salah.

This was revealed by Ben Jacobs, a sports broadcaster and correspondent, on talkSPORT on Monday. The situation he explained is likely to make Liverpool supporters a little more nervous regarding their star man’s future.

Jacobs spoke about the Saudi Pro League’s TV deal. “The television rights will change from MENA - which is the Middle Eastern North Africa - to country specific in certain territories. One of those is Egypt,” he said.

“So, as a result, if Salah joins this is also about a return on investment because then Egypt will have specific country rights. With Salah there you would expect the Saudi Pro League to bring in a relatively lucrative deal.”

That’s putting it mildly. The Egyptian interest in watching Salah would surely massively outdo any television deal the Saudi Pro League has had in the past.

But while that may be true, is the Reds’ number 11 ready to turn his back on the elite level of football to play in what remains essentially a retirement league? Salah is in phenomenal form this season and looks capable of playing in the big leagues for a good while longer.

It isn’t just the volume of his contributions – nine goals and seven assists in 15 appearances – but the importance of them. Against Brighton on Saturday, the Egyptian scored the winner, which followed him bagging the equaliser in the 2-2 draw at Arsenal last weekend.

Salah assisted the winning goals against RB Leipzig and Chelsea after setting up the opener and scoring a beautiful goal against Bologna. He converted a penalty at Wolves after the home side had levelled the game, directly contributed to all three goals against Manchester United and both at Ipswich.

That’s not the record of a player who is ready to turn his back on the pinnacle of his chosen sport, is it? As such, it will surely still take more than an advantageous television deal before Salah starts playing in the Saudi Pro League.