Liverpool may reportedly look to sell Mohamed Salah in the January transfer window, in order to improve their hopes of signing Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha.
Salah’s form has been a cause for concern since the start of this season, with the 33-year-old a far cry from last season’s PFA Player of the Year.
The Egyptian legend is contracted at Liverpool until the summer of 2027, but given his dropoff, there is a chance that the Reds could cash in before then.
Speaking to Football Insider, former Everton CEO Keith Wyness discussed the Merseysiders’ attempts to sign Vitinha, saying a January exit for Salah could help make the deal happen, even though it is unlikely:
“I think it is going to be difficult for them to pull it off. I think Real Madrid are actually in the wings looking for him, and I’ve heard that there’s some stories going around that sort of move. I do think it’s difficult for Liverpool and Arsenal, given for Liverpool right now as well, I think there’s a lot of financial questions being asked now.
“I think the obvious thing would be to let Mo Salah go there to Saudi. Now, whether that could happen as soon as January to free up some funds, I don’t know, but certainly that question must be being asked because given the expenditure we’ve talked about already spent, I think they’d have to make some sort of money back in to be able to justify something like Vitinha.
“Arsenal, I think, are looking pretty settled right now. I don’t see them spending that sort of money just now on Vitinha. So I think Spain is more likely for them.”
Vitinha a wonderful long-term option for Liverpool
Vitinha has been a joy to watch for PSG in the past year or so, winning the Champions League last season and being described as the “best midfielder in the world” by Tottenham manager Thomas Frank earlier this week.
Liverpool have toiled in midfield of late, with Alexis Mac Allister looking jaded, so the idea of the Portuguese coming in is hugely exciting.
That said, it would be a big surprise if the Reds sanctioned Salah’s departure in January, despite his struggles, with a decision over his future likely to be made in the summer instead.
Either way, Vitinha should be viewed as a fantastic long-term addition, with the Portugal international possessing the technical brilliance to dictate midfield battles, completing 93.7% of his passes in the Champions League this season.
