Saudi Arabian football clubs have set their sights on Mohamed Salah following his recent controversy, as confirmed by the chief executive of the Pro League.

Salah did not play in Liverpool’s narrow 1-0 victory against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

This decision came after Salah’s fiery comments to the press at Elland Road, where he was an unused substitute during Liverpool’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Leeds United on Saturday.

The incident has sparked speculation that Salah might part ways with Liverpool in the upcoming January transfer window. The Egyptian star has previously been linked to a lucrative transfer to the Saudi Pro League.

At the World Football Summit in Riyadh, Omar Mugharbe, the chief executive of the Saudi Pro League, acknowledged that clubs from their top division have shown interest in Salah.

Mo Salah is a target of Saudi Arabian clubs, the chief executive of their Pro league has confirmed

Salah’s future at Liverpool is in doubt following his outburst at the club and manager Arne Slot

Speculation has risen that Salah could leave the club, with Saudi Arabia a possible destination

‘Mohamed Salah is welcome in the Saudi League, but it is the clubs that are responsible for negotiating with players,’ Mugharbel said, as reported by the BBC.

‘For sure Salah is one of them [a target].’

Salah, 33, signed a two-year mega-money deal, which runs until summer 2027, earlier this year. 

Daily Mail Sport reported earlier this week that clubs in Saudi Arabia, the United States and now Europe are on red alert over his future.

Mugharbel’s comments are the first public confirmation that Saudi Pro League sides are eyeing a potential deal for Salah following his recent comments.

The Saudi Pro League has long been touted the forward’s next move after he was the subject of a failed £150million bid from Al-Ittihad in 2023.

Salah has long been seen as the ‘dream target’ for clubs in the Saudi Pro League.

The winger had declined to answer a question about Saudi Arabian interest amid his outburst on Saturday.

Salah’s outburst came after he was left on the bench again for Liverpool’s draw against Leeds

After Liverpool’s win over Inter Milan, Slot hinted that there could be a way back for the Egyptian if he acknowledges that he made a mistake. 

Speaking to pundit and fellow Dutchman Clarence Seedorf on Amazon Prime, he said: ‘You say everyone makes mistakes in life, so the first thing should be: does the player think he’s made a mistake as well?

‘And then the next question is, should the initiative come from me or him? That’s another question to answer.’

Slot later rowed back on his comments with a mixed message, saying: ‘Clarence said that in his opinion and I didn’t say who should make the first step.

‘Tonight it should be all about the players that are here. In the rich history Liverpool has had they have had many of these evenings. 

‘(The performance) was all I could ask for, I think the fourth game in 10 days, that is not what you see a lot with only 13 outfield players available with experience, after the blow we had conceding the 3-3 in Leeds then in this stadium against such a strong Inter team, we hardly gave away a chance.

‘We had a great mentality second half, we get better and better.’

Salah’s comments have attracted criticism from Liverpool legends, with Jamie Carragher initially labelling his statements as ‘a disgrace’, before toning down his criticism on Wednesday.

Legendary former club captain Steven Gerrard has admitted Salah was wrong to air his grievances in the public eye. 

Steven Gerrard has given his thoughts on Mo Salah’s explosive interview at Elland Road

‘He’s obviously really upset he’s not playing, which I respect. He obviously wants to help the team, which I respect,’ the former Reds captain told TNT Sports’ The Breakdown.

‘A couple of lines about throwing people under the bus, wrong. Need to reverse a little bit away from that, to deal with that with the manager. This needs Virgil van Dijk to go, “How are we sorting this out?” Not even for so much for the benefit of the club, or the team, it’s the fans.

‘No one’s perfect and we’ve all had head loss as players, where we’ve done emotional things. I think in time when this all calms, Mo will go, “I shouldn’t have said that. I maybe shouldn’t have said that and I was a bit emotional and a bit hasty.”

‘At the end of the day, Liverpool need Mo Salah back playing well, scoring goals because he is the best player, the best scorer, and he will help them get out of this. If this goes on, this is bigger than what we all know and what we see.’