Salah to Besiktas? Football’s transfer window centre stage after World Cup
With the FIFA World Cup 2026 now finished, club football managers around the globe are trying to finalise their transfer plans, with supporters lapping up
With the FIFA World Cup 2026 now finished, club football managers around the globe are trying to finalise their transfer plans, with supporters lapping up all the rumours and speculation. One name dominates the headlines, though: Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian forward was in the spotlight at the World Cup, where his team exited in the round of 16 following a defeat by Argentina, but all attention will now turn to his club career as he is on the move following his departure from Liverpool. Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at where the 31-year-old could be heading next. Is Salah joining Besiktas? The rumour mill is in full flow, and there are a plethora of options for the former Liverpool star. A move to Turkiye has been mooted, and Besiktas are believed to be leading the candidates. If social media reports are to be believed, a verbal agreement has already been reached. A fourth-placed finish last season in the Turkish league has heaped pressure on the club officials to improve results, and Salah’s signing would be seen as the perfect tonic on and off the field. Europa League football awaits this season for the Istanbul-based club, and their campaign begins on Thursday with a qualifier against Danish club Midtjylland. Could Salah move to the MLS or Saudi Arabia’s Pro League? A stay in Europe would be the primary option for Salah, should he wish to continue to challenge his game at the highest level. A move to Saudi Arabia has long been in the news cycle. It would be seen as a huge coup for the Saudi Pro League, especially given Salah’s status as the greatest player to not only come out of the Middle East but also as Africa’s finest.
The other competition that would dearly love Salah to become their poster boy is the MLS (Major League Soccer) in the United States. Lionel Messi remains their star turn, but with the failure of Argentina at the World Cup, there will be speculation that the 39-year-old may not only call time on his international playing days but also his club career. Salah’s stock rises as an off-pitch class act? Salah’s appeal extends well beyond his skill on the flank. The magical left foot is complemented by the grace he also has off the field of play. The Egyptian earned huge credit for pulling his teammate away from confrontations with officials and opponents after the defeat by Argentina. Salah enjoys a large following and is counted among the biggest icons of his generation across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas. Marketeers and financiers will be rubbing their hands together in whichever part of the world Salah ends up. Who replaces Salah at Liverpool? Alongside the question of where Salah ends up is the problem of who will replace him at Liverpool. New manager Andoni Iraola has acknowledged the huge challenge he has in trying to find a player who can have the impact the Champions League and two-time Premier League winner, Salah, had at Anfield. Two of the names at the top of the list are Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise of Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, but Iraola has indicated that he will not seek an immediate replacement so as not to draw comparisons, thereby heaping pressure on any new arrival. Did Salah reject Saudi Arabia?
The BriefWire