Salah

Egyptian official says Liverpool star will fade away if he opts for the MLS as San Diego FC owner welcomes compatriot.

Egypt’s ‌national team director Ibrahim Hassan has cautioned Mohamed Salah against moving ⁠to Major League ⁠Soccer (MLS) after he leaves Liverpool at the end of the season, as it would see the forward fade into obscurity.

Salah, 33, ⁠has yet to decide his next move after he ends a hugely successful nine-year spell at Liverpool, where he won two Premier League titles ⁠and the Champions League.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber has said he would love to see Salah in the league, though it is unclear whether any league teams will attempt to sign him.

“Personally, I would prefer him to stay in Europe,” ‌Hassan told On Sports. “I have heard about offers from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Bayern Munich and clubs in the Italian league.

“A move to the Major League? He would be far too out of the spotlight. You won’t remember Salah any more than I remember [Lionel] Messi now, I don’t even try to watch him.”

After trophy-laden stints with Barcelona and PSG, ⁠Argentina captain Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023, months ⁠after lifting the World Cup, and became the club’s all-time top scorer.

Hassan said the Saudi Pro League would be a suitable option if Salah chose not to stay in Europe.

“If ⁠he does not receive offers from Europe, then a move to the Saudi league would be a good ⁠option, especially with big names such as Cristiano [Ronaldo],” ⁠Hassan, twin brother of Egypt coach Hossam Hassan, added.

However, San Diego FC’s billionaire owner Mohamed Mansour believes his Egyptian compatriot would be an “asset” as speculation builds over the Liverpool forward’s next club.

If he does move to the United States, recent MLS expansion club San Diego FC, who reached the playoff semifinals in their debut season last year, have been heavily linked with Salah, not least due to their British-Egyptian owner, Mansour.

“He’s probably one of the great players today. And any team that will get him, or any country that will get him, he will definitely be an asset,” Mansour told the AFP news agency at a summit in Atlanta on Thursday.

Mansour declined to answer whether he is actively trying to recruit Salah or has previously sounded out a move for the striker.

But he added: “Of course, Mo Salah is somebody that, as an Egyptian, my origin, I’m very proud of. He is somebody that reached the world stage as one of the great players.”

“And I think he will, if he does decide … wherever he will go, he will add a lot to that league and to that country and to that team for sure. So he’s somebody I’m very proud of.”

Mansour said the entire Egypt comes to a halt whenever Salah plays and named the forward as his favourite footballer of all time.

While effusive in his praise for Salah, Mansour insisted that footballing recruitment decisions are left to San Diego FC’s sports director and coach.

“I let the people in charge” decide, he said.

Salah is currently sidelined by injury and will miss Egypt’s ongoing training camp as they prepare for the World Cup in North America.

Egypt ‌face Spain in a friendly in Barcelona on Tuesday after a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Friday.

The seven-time African champions are in ‌Group ‌G with Belgium, New Zealand and Iran at the World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19.

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Salah has played a key role in reviving Liverpool‘s fortunes on the pitch during the past nine years.

He helped the club to two Premier League titles, the Champions League, Fifa Club World Cup, Uefa Super Cup, FA Cup and two EFL Cups, as well as the Community Shield.

Salah’s tally of 255 goals in 435 appearances for the Reds has him third in the pantheon of all-time leading goalscorers for the club, behind Ian Rush (346) and Roger Hunt (285).

He has won the Premier League golden boot on four occasions and been named the Professional Footballers’ Association player of the year three times – in 2018, 2022 and 2025.

Salah also hailed the support he has received from Liverpool fans who “showed me through the best time of my career” and also “stood by me in the toughest times”.

“It’s something I will never forget and something I will take with me always. Leaving is never easy,” he added.

“You gave me the best time of my life, I will be always one of you. The club will always be my home, to me and to my family. Thank you for everything. Because of all of you I will never walk alone.”

Liverpool said that Salah’s time at Anfield had been a “remarkable nine-year chapter” and plans to show their appreciation will come at a later date.

“With plenty still left to play for this season, Salah is firmly focused on trying to achieve the best possible finish to the campaign for Liverpool,” the club added.

“Therefore, the time to fully celebrate his legacy and achievements will follow later in the year when he bids farewell to Anfield.”

Bruno Guimaraes is wanted by some big-name teams, Manchester United are set to rebuff another season’s loan for Marcus Rashford, and Tottenham captain Cristian Romero downplays talk of a move.

Manchester United are in advanced negotiations to sign Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes for about £69m, but renewed interest ​from Real Madrid threatens to complicate the move for the 28-year-old Brazil midfielder. (Reuters), external

However, the Magpies are keen to keep Guimaraes and are lining up talks over a record new contract. (Teamtalk), external

Manchester United will reject Barcelona’s efforts to extend the loan of England international Marcus Rashford, 28, for another season, telling the Spanish club to pay the previously agreed £26m or send the forward back to Old Trafford. (Mirror), external

Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero has dismissed speculation linking him with a summer transfer, with the Argentine, 27, stating his commitment is to helping the club avoid relegation. (Independent), external

Meanwhile, striker Randal Kolo Muani, who is on loan at Tottenham from Paris St Germain, is being lined up for a permanent move to Juventus where the 27-year-old spent time last season. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian), external

Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah, 33, has yet to make a decision about his future amid interest from Saudi Arabia, while Al-Hilal are confident they can tempt Reds sporting director Richard Hughes to join them. (Mail – subscription required), external

Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans, 28, is ready to reject any offers to leave Aston Villa having been on the radar of several clubs in Saudi Arabia. (Football Insider), external

Real Madrid are in discussions with their 33-year-old Germany defender Antonio Rudiger over a new deal. (Marca), external

Borussia Dortmund are interested in re-signing English forward Jadon Sancho. The 25-year-old, on loan at Aston Villa, will be out of contract at parent club Manchester United in June. (Athletic – subscription required), external

Manchester City are increasingly resigned to manager Pep Guardiola leaving at the end of the season, with potential replacements being assessed. (Football Insider), external

Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is a target for Inter Milan and the 29-year-old Italy international is believed to be open to a move to the Serie A club. (Calciomercato – in Italian), external

Brighton keeper Carl Rushworth, on loan at Coventry City, is attracting interest from as many as six Premier League clubs with the 24-year-old Englishman expected to command a fee of about £20m. (Talksport), external

Manchester City are closing in on a deal for Elliot Anderson, several Premier League clubs are interested in Fulham‘s Samuel Amissah, and Liverpool have identified Yan Diomande as a replacement for Mohamed Salah.

Manchester City are close to completing a deal to sign England midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest. (Teamtalk), external

Anderson favours a move to City over neighbours Manchester United, but Nottingham Forest value the 23-year-old at more than £70m. (Talksport), external

Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea are set to battle to sign England Under-19 centre-back Samuel Amissah, 18, from Fulham. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

Liverpool want 19-year-old Yan Diomande to replace Mohamed Salah on the right wing and the RB Leipzig winger could cost them £87m. (Teamtalk), external

Former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino and Roberto de Zerbi are Tottenham‘s top managerial targets this summer – however former player Robbie Keane, now in charge of Ferencvaros, could be considered if they are relegated to the Championship. (GiveMeSport), external

Arne Slot’s position as Liverpool boss is set to come under significant scrutiny at the end of the season, with former Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso the only manager the club’s owners want to succeed the Dutchman. (Teamtalk), external

Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie, 24, will join Arsenal on a permanent transfer from Bayer Leverkusen at the end of this season. (Sun), external

The Gunners will need to sell a first-team player this summer, with Norway midfielder Martin Odegaard, 27, and Brazil winger Gabriel Martinelli, 24, among the potential candidates. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

Manchester United plan to hold contract talks with Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes, 31, after this summer’s World Cup. (Football Insider), external

Chelsea and Manchester City are among the clubs interested in Bayern Munich’s 21-year-old Germany midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic, who could cost 65m euros (£56m). (Caught Offside), external