Liverpool Transfer Storm: Salah Linked With January Exit as Red Bulls Rule Themselves Out
Liverpool’s ongoing saga with Mohamed Salah has taken another twist this week, with Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls confirming that they will not pursue the club legend amid mounting transfer speculation. The 33-year-old’s future at Anfield has been the subject of headlines after a highly publicised feud with manager Arne Slot. This has left supporters and the wider football community pondering what could come next for one of the Premier League’s most iconic forwards. This dispute has now become one of the most closely followed stories ahead of the winter window.
That uncertainty has found its way into the transfer markets, where both bettors and analysts are watching how this situation with Salah may unfold. On the best betting sites in the UK, current odds place his likely destination after the January window firmly in the balance: bookmakers list Liverpool to retain him at around 1/2, with moves to any Saudi Arabian club priced at roughly 4/5, while MLS options sit near 12/1. This reflects the consensus that a blockbuster Middle Eastern transfer is more probable than a switch to the United States. Platforms like these offer real-time odds and historical data that help followers gauge shifting probabilities. As events like Salah’s impending Africa Cup of Nations campaign influence markets, this is a helpful tool.
The Red Bulls’ declaration they are not in the hunt for Salah (despite earlier chatter linking them to the Egypt international) adds a fresh layer to the transfer puzzle. MLS Commissioner Don Garber has suggested Salah speak with compatriots who have experienced life in the league, yet New York’s decision leaves other franchises such as San Diego FC, Inter Miami, and the Chicago Fire as possible MLS suitors if the forward opts for a stateside switch.
Off the pitch, the rupture between Salah and Slot appears to have crystallised in recent weeks following a series of benchings and omission from Liverpool’s Champions League squad. The forward’s explosive comments, in which he claimed to have been “thrown under the bus” by the club, have sparked vocal debate over his role in Liverpool’s plans.
This public fallout has seen bookmakers reassess their markets, with Saudi Pro League clubs prominently featured at the head of early January transfer odds. Sites that specialise in odds compilation have listed Al Hilal as a leading candidate among Saudi sides. Other clubs such as Al Ittihad and Al-Nassr are also in the mix. However, Liverpool is still the favourite to keep Salah beyond the winter window.
Despite the global interest, not all voices in Saudi football are convinced a Salah transfer would be universally beneficial. A club owner in the Saudi Pro League argued recently that the Liverpool star may not be the ideal strategic fit for teams that are focused on long-term success. He instead advocated for investment in younger talents. This is a perspective that could temper some of the fervour around a big-money move.
At Anfield, the club’s approach has been to manage the situation with caution. Reports suggest Liverpool is not planning a formal farewell for Salah ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, a decision interpreted as protecting his transfer value rather than signalling his imminent departure.
The forward is due to link up with Egypt’s national squad for AFCON in Morocco later this month, representing a temporary reprieve from the frictions at Liverpool and offering both player and club a natural period of reflection away from domestic pressures.
Meanwhile, debate continues among both pundits and former professionals about how this episode has unfolded and continues to progress. Some have criticised Salah’s public airing of grievances as a disloyal move towards the club, while others argue that the forward’s frustration is understandable considering his decorated Liverpool career.
Liverpool’s immediate focus remains on navigating its tight fixture schedule and maintaining competitiveness in the Premier League and Europe. How they manage Salah’s situation (whether through reconciliation or a January transfer) will be one of the defining storylines of the winter window. The odds still favour a stay at Anfield, but Saudi Arabian interest is firmly in view. Either way you look at it, Salah’s next career chapter is one of the most closely anticipated narratives in world football ahead of 2026.
The post Liverpool Transfer Storm: Salah Linked With January Exit as Red Bulls Rule Themselves Out appeared first on 11v11.