Salah’s situation at Liverpool has taken an unexpected turn this season.
After rejecting a lucrative offer from the Middle East earlier this year and signing a new two-year contract instead, his form has dipped sharply.
Arne Slot left him out of the starting line-up for the 2-0 win at West Ham on Sunday and all eyes will be on today’s team sheet against Sunderland, to see whether that decision was a one-off or the start of a wider trend.
Inside the club, there is a growing belief that this may be developing into 33-year-old Salah’s final season at Anfield.
If that proves to be the case, offers from Saudi Arabia will be prepared.
He has long been viewed as the dream signing for the league. Salah is a player capable of shifting the global profile … and they would be prepared to pay extraordinary sums to secure him.
Information reaching Flashscore suggests Salah would be offered in the region of £150 million-per-year to make the move.
Those closer to the situation insist that, despite previous decisions to stay at Liverpool, there has always been an openness to making the switch at some stage in his career.
Al Hilal remain a credible suitor, although Al-Qadsiah have also been floated as a contender.
Vinicius Junior is a more complicated case, but one that Saudi officials have been tracking just as closely.
Real Madrid want him tied down to a fresh long-term contract, yet the dynamic around him has shifted this season.
His relationship with new head coach Xabi Alonso has shown early signs of strain, even though both publicly insist the situation is under control.
Vinicius has said that he intends to stay at Real for many years - but privately the situation seems more tense, and after the 2026 World Cup he will have just one year left on his deal.
That timeline has not gone unnoticed and Saudi chiefs would love the chance to make a proposal.
Some sources in Brazil think such a move in 2026 will be too soon for the 25-year-old forward but insiders say the figures on offer might yet turn his head.
It is thought he could be offered even more than Salah, given his age and current profile.
So far, Al Ahli have widely been viewed as a leading landing spot for him - having already made inroads.
Talks will open up again soon for him to stay at Madrid - but the situation is intriguing.
They already have Cristiano Ronaldo, but will 2026 be the year Saudi Arabia lands its next global icon?
