Salah's Anfield Swan Song: Egyptian King Waves Goodbye – But Where to Next?

Picture this: nine years of magic at Liverpool, buckets of silverware, and enough goals to fill the Mersey. Now, Mohamed Salah is calling time on his Reds tenure at season's end. It's like losing your best mate from the local – gutting, but you've got to toast the memories.

The Egyptian phenom rocked up in 2016 when the Kop faithful were still dreaming of that elusive Premier League crown. Fast forward, and he's hoisted it twice – 2019-20 and a cheeky 2024-25 encore – plus that glorious Champions League in 2019. Records? He's shattered 'em left, right, and centre. Merseyside will chant his name forever.

The Desert Beckons: Saudi Pro League in Pole Position?

With his Liverpool deal expiring, Salah's not short of suitors flush with cash. Enter the Saudi Pro League (SPL), home to Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. These lads have turned the Gulf into football's gold rush, and Salah's wages would barely raise an eyebrow there.

Al Ittihad are frontrunners, say sources close to ESPN. They chucked $200 million at him back in 2023 (and missed), but now they're circling again after Benzema jumped ship to Al Hilal. Al Qadsiah, bossed by ex-Liverpool gaffer Brendan Rodgers, fancy a superstar right winger too – perfect timing for their shiny new stadium ahead of 2034 World Cup games. Rodgers, who legged it from Anfield just before Salah arrived, might fancy a reunion.

Lower-tier hopefuls Al Diriyah and Al Ula could crash the party if they snag promotion, but Al Hilal? Nah, they're good, reports ESPN's Rob Dawson.

Europe Dreams Fizzle: Barca, Madrid, PSG Pass

Closer to home, the glamour clubs are giving it a swerve. Barcelona? Once they'd have snapped up a free-agent Salah quicker than a paella vanishes. But with Lamine Yamal owning the right flank and Raphinha on the left, plus a youth focus, his salary's a non-starter, per ESPN's Sam Marsden.

Real Madrid love a freebie – Kylian Mbappé, Trent Alexander-Arnold, you name it – but Salah at 34? Their no-long-contracts-for-oldies policy screams 'no chance', says Alex Kirkland. PSG? Nasser Al-Khelaifi chased him before, but now it's young guns lifting the Champions League, not veterans (Julien Laurens).

Galatasaray? Rumours swirled post-announcement, but no chats happening – they're skint after splashing on Leroy Sané (Dawson again).

MLS Mirage: Miami Traffic Jam

Stateside, MLS chief Don Garber dreams big, but reality bites. Inter Miami? Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, and newbie Germán Berterame hog the Designated Player spots till 2028-29. No wiggle room like De Paul's loan-to-permanent switch (Lizzy Becherano for ESPN).

Other MLS sides might gamble, but with Salah's pedigree, expect a bidding war. Or does he fancy a retirement pad in Egypt? Nah, the fire's still burning.

Whatever happens, Salah's legacy is etched in Anfield stone. Fancy a pint to mull it over? Cheers to the King.