Salah Saudi Bound? Liverpool Line Up Diaby as Replacement Amid Bidding Frenzy
Liverpool are eyeing a move for Moussa Diaby from Al-Ittihad as a potential long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah, amid reports of the Egyptian's likely Saudi Pro League switch in 2026. The French winger, keen on a European return, has attracted interest from Newcastle, Tottenham, Chelsea and others, sparking fears of a bidding war. Diaby's impressive Saudi stats make him a perfect Premier League fit, with intermediaries already in touch.
Salah's Anfield Exit on the Horizon – Time for Plan B?
Picture this: Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian King who's been tormenting defenders since 2017, might be packing his bags for the Saudi Pro League come summer 2026. His current deal runs until 2027, but whispers from the grapevine suggest this could be his last dance at Anfield. Form's dipped a tad this 2025/26 season, and those oil-rich clubs are circling like vultures.
Transfer guru Graeme Bailey at TEAMtalk reckons a formal offer's brewing from Saudi bigwigs. Liverpool aren't daft – they've been scouting replacements on the sly. Names like Michael Olise from Bayern Munich and Yan Diomande at RB Leipzig are floating around, but the real intrigue? Moussa Diaby.
Diaby: The Villa Flop Turned Saudi Star Poised for Prem Return
The Frenchman, who dazzled briefly at Aston Villa in 2023/24 before a €60m move to Al-Ittihad, is itching to come back to Europe. Sources say intermediaries have pinged Liverpool about his availability, and the Reds are chatting with his agency, per German outlet Fussball Daten.
Diaby's been on fire out there – 8 goals and a whopping 29 assists in 61 games. Contract till 2029, but Al-Ittihad might let him go for €40m or so, a snip compared to what they paid. His pace and physicality? Tailor-made for the Prem's relentless treadmill, as the report puts it.
Bailey backed this up back in February, noting Diaby's 'desire' to return. No wonder – Saudi cash is nice, but Europe's spotlight calls.
Bidding War Brews: Toon Army and Spurs Set to Crash the Party
It's not just Liverpool sniffing around. Newcastle United, with their chequebook swagger, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, and even Borussia Dortmund are in the mix. FSG better brace for an 'intense bidding war', especially from the Magpies' billions.
Subhankar Mondal at TEAMtalk broke the initial story, highlighting how Diaby's profile screams Premier League. Villa fans might chuckle – he didn't set the world alight there, but 20-odd goal involvements in Saudi? That's redemption arc material.
Meanwhile, Liverpool's transfer pot simmers elsewhere. They're eyeing a Man Utd target's hijack, locking down a fan favourite long-term, and Bayern might slip up by opening their door to a Reds raid. Anfield's plotting like a chess grandmaster.
Why Diaby Fits the Bill – And What It Means for the Title Race
Slotting Diaby in on the right? He'd bring that directness Salah's mastered, with bags of creativity. Liverpool, the defending champs, can't afford a Salah-shaped hole if he jets off. At 27, he's prime age too.
Newcastle could turn this into a laughable auction, but FSG love a bargain. Imagine the banter if Spurs or Chelsea pip them – Kopites would riot. Diaby's ready, the contacts are hotting up, and summer 2026 shapes up as fireworks.
Keep your eyes peeled, lads. This saga's got more twists than a dodgy penalty shout. Cheers to TEAMtalk for the intel – original reporting by Subhankar Mondal.