Al Ittihad Eye Heung Min Son and Federico Chiesa as Mohamed Salah Alternatives Should a Deal Fail To Materialize

Al Ittihad have started exploring contingencies in case they fail in their Mohamed Salah pursuit. The Liverpool forward is a long-term Saudi Pro League target, with Al Ittihad being long-term admirers.

Following manager Jurgen Klopp’s departure at the end of the 2023-24 season, a window of opportunity opened for Al Ittihad to potentially secure Salah from Anfield. However, the Merseyside club swiftly moved to replace him with Arne Slot, demonstrating their strategic planning and commitment to a smooth transition. Slot’s immediate priorities upon signing have been to address the uncertainties surrounding key players such as Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.

The latest developments have suggested that a move for Mohamed Salah may not happen, at least this summer, leading Al Ittihad to plan for that eventuality. On their shortlist are Tottenham Hotspurs captain Heung Min Son and Juventus’ Federico Chiesa.

With Marcelo Gallardo’s departure, Al Ittihad is in the process of making a managerial appointment, a decision that will significantly influence their choice of signings. The club, having finished in fifth place, 42 points behind winners Al Hilal, is acutely aware of the need for significant steps to be taken to be more competitive next term. Their plan to sign a prolific forward who can create and score reflects this determination and ambition.