Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said Mohamed Salah remains an essential part of his team and there is "nothing there" regarding the speculation linking the Egyptian with a move to Saudi champions Al Ittihad.
Reports emerged on Thursday night claiming Ittihad had renewed their interest in Salah and were prepared to double their previous contract offer for the 31-year-old forward. The previous offer, when Ittihad had identified Salah as a top target earlier in the summer, was understood to be worth €180 million over two years.
Ittihad are reportedly ready to make an opening transfer bid of £52m ($65m) to Liverpool in order to begin contract talks with Salah, although the Premier League club are reluctant to lose their star player this summer.
Speaking on Friday during his pre-match press conference, ahead of Liverpool's Premier League match at Newcastle United, Klopp was asked about the latest Salah speculation.
“Talk about media stories, nothing to talk about from my point of view. He is a Liverpool player," Klopp said. “He is essential and will be. There is nothing there. My life philosophy is, I think about a problem when I have it.”
Salah's agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, had earlier this month dismissed speculation his client was close to leaving Liverpool for Saudi, posting on social media: “If we considered leaving [Liverpool] this year, we wouldn’t have renewed the contract last summer,” Issa wrote. “Mohamed remains committed to LFC.”
And it appears, according to Klopp, that his stance has not changed. When asked if Salah is still committed to Liverpool, the German replied: "100 per cent."
Salah, who signed a new three-year deal with Liverpool last summer, will again be a key player for Klopp this season, and the Egyptian opened his Premier League account last weekend in the 3-1 win over Bournemouth.
Liverpool played more than 30 minutes of that game with 10-men after Alexis Mac Allister - the Argentine World Cup-winner signed from Brighton in the summer - was harshly sent off. The midfielder's red card has since been rescinded on appeal and he is available to face Newcastle at St James' Park.
“Very good news on Alexis Mac Allister, massive [relief]," Klopp said. "I was pretty sure it wasn’t a red card, but that does not mean our people were going to be successful.
"The picture were pretty clear it should not of been a red card, harsh tackles should always be punished but it was not a harsh tackle in a situation, it was fast."
Premier League predictions
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FRIDAY - Chelsea v Luton Town (11pm kick-off UAE): Chelsea have taken just one point from two games so far under Mauricio Pochettino and the new manager needs a win under his belt after a summer of huge investment. Should be a comfortable night against newly promoted Luton, though. Prediction: Chelsea 3 Luton 0. Getty -
SATURDAY - Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm): Spurs enjoyed a morale-boosting win over Manchester United last week making it four points from a possible six under Ange Postecoglou. The team is still lacking a reliable goalscorer after Harry Kane's exit but they should have enough in their locker to edge past the Cherries. Prediction: Bournemouth 1 Spurs 2. Getty -
Arsenal v Fulham (6pm): The Gunners have won two from two so far but only by the odd goal against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace. It has been a mixed start for Fulham, who defeated Everton in their opening game but were heavily beaten at home by local rivals Brentford last week. Prediction: Arsenal 2 Fulham 0. Getty -
Brentford v Crystal Palace (6pm): The Bees will be buzzing after their 3-0 demolition of London rivals Fulham last week that saw Bryan Mbeumo grab a brace. Palace have won one and lost one so far, both with 1-0 scorelines. Prediction: Brentford 2 Palace 1. Reuters -
Everton v Wolves (6pm): It has been a miserable start to the campaign for both of these clubs who sit on zero points at the bottom of the table. Last week saw both teams concede four goals; Everton away to Aston Villa and Wolves at home to Brighton. Prediction: Everton 1 Wolves 1. Getty -
Manchester United v Nottingham Forest (6pm): The early warning alarm is being primed at Old Trafford after United followed up their lucky win over Wolves with a deserved defeat at Spurs. Chirs Wood's late header earned Forest three points last week after narrowly losing to Arsenal in their opening game. Prediction: Man United 1 Forest 1. AFP -
Brighton v West Ham United (8.30pm): Brighton have been quickest out the blocks so far after two 4-1 victories on the spin against Luton and Wolves, respectively. The London Stadium was rocking last weekend when West Ham battled their way to a 3-1 win against London rivals Chelsea. Prediction: Brighton 3 West Ham 1. Getty -
SUNDAY - Burnley v Aston Villa (5pm): Villa recovered from their opening weekend battering at Newcastle in style by handing out a similar beating to Everton on Sunday. Burnley enjoyed a free weekend due to Luton's ground not being up to scratch after losing to Manchester City in their opener. Prediction: Burnley 2 Aston Villa 2. Getty -
Sheffield United v Manchester City (5pm): Both teams have 100 per cent records so far, but only one will be happy about it. The Blades lost to Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, while City have beaten Burnley and Newcastle - as well as winning the Uefa Super Cup following a penalties victory over Sevilla. Prediction: Sheffield United 0 Man City 4. EPA -
Newcastle United v Liverpool (7.30pm): Game of the weekend sees the top-four hopefuls clash at St James' Park. Newcastle fell to a narrow defeat at champions Manchester City last time out while Mohamed Salah was among the goals as Liverpool defeated Bournemouth on Merseyside. Prediction: Newcastle 3 Liverpool 1. Getty
Only a couple of seasons ago, Liverpool would have been overwhelming favourites against Newcastle on Sunday, but the transformation the Magpies have undergone under Saudi ownership and with Eddie Howe in the dugout has been remarkable.
After finishing fourth in the Premier League last season and securing Champions League football, Newcastle began the current campaign with an emphatic win over Aston Villa before a narrow defeat to treble winners Manchester City.
Klopp is therefore expecting a tough challenge, saying: “Incredibly strong team, in the Champions League and fully deserved with super development under Eddie Howe and smart business.
"[New signings] Sandro Tonali and Harvey Barnes are really good business; they have a super intense style and massive atmosphere there so this is a tough one for sure.
"They played a really good first game where Aston Villa were good as well, the result didn’t reflect the full game."
