Saudi club in crisis after £150m bid for Liverpool's Mohamed Salah
It has been a tough season for Al-Ittihad since Liverpool rejected their late attempts to sign Mohamed Salah.
The club tabled a £150m offer for the Egyptian forward, who would have represented the most marquee signing in a busy summer for the Saudi Pro League. Liverpool quickly rebuffed Al-Ittihad’s advances and have been rewarded with some sparkling displays from Salah, who clocked up 16 goal contributions for Jurgen Klopp’s side so far.
As for Al-Ittihad, the Saudi side is one of four clubs that are backed by the country’s Public Investment Fund and had already snapped up Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante, as well as Salah’s former Liverpool teammate Fabinho. However, those high-profile signings have been unable to prevent the team from suffering a shaky start.
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Al-Ittihad currently sit fifth in the league after 13 games, behind the three other PIF-backed teams as well as Al-Taawoun, who have a much smaller budget and no star names to call upon. The team are already some way off the pace, 11 points behind early league leaders Al-Hilal.
Things have gone smoother in the AFC Champions League with Al-Ittihad top of their group after four games. However, their recent 2-0 defeat to Iraqi side Al Quwa Al Jawiya reportedly angered Benzema and proved to be Nuno Espirito Santo’s final game in charge. The former Spurs boss is set to be replaced by Argentinian Marcelo Gallardo, following claims that recent Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui turned down the role.
The club’s rush to sign big names has also
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