Media Digest: Al-Ittihad aren’t ready to end their interest in Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah just yet, while there is optimism regarding Ryan Gravenberch’s transfer
Liverpool has already turned down an offer of $189m (£150m/€185m) for the 31-year-old winger, but despite Jürgen Klopp stating that the Reds aren’t interested in selling him, the Saudi Arabian side are determined to push again for the move next week.
While the opening offer only arrived on deadline day, the report adds that talks have been ongoing for a number of months, with Saudi Pro League officials moving to the south coast of France to help conduct negotiations swiftly. Liverpool, with no interest in moving him on, and no chance to find a replacement anyway, considers the case closed.
Salah trained as normal last week, with no indication that he is set to force a move despite what would be a lucrative contract offer on par or even better than what Cristiano Ronaldo earns, with the Egyptian’s seemingly on Sunday’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa.
While Liverpool look set to be contacted again by Al-Ittihad, it is unlikely that Salah will be leaving Merseyside this month.
Optimism around Ryan Gravenberch’s Liverpool move despite his time at Bayern Munich not working out
Ryan Gravenberch completed a deadline day move to Liverpool on Friday in a deal worth $43m (£34m/€40m). According to the Athletic, there is optimism that things will work out better at Anfield than they did at the Allianz Arena.
Gravenberch spent one season in the Bundesliga, where he made just three starts from 24 league appearances — and six starts in all competitions. The Netherlands star and compatriot of both Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo was involved in a difficult competition for minutes in Bayern Munich’s system, amid a midfield battle where club captain Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka were often preferred.
A young player in a dressing room of German internationals, Gravenberch was said to be deemed (alongside Marcel Sabitzer) to be the easier option to leave out of the starting team, a trend followed by both his managers in Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel.
