Jurgen Klopp insists Mohamed Salah is committed to Liverpool despite interest in the winger from Al-Ittihad.
The Saudi Pro League side are prepared to push to sign Salah before the transfer deadline, having seen an approach rejected earlier in the window.
Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas, took to social media earlier this month to reemphasise Salah’s happiness at Liverpool and Klopp has reaffirmed that message.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash at Newcastle, Klopp said that Salah remains ‘100%’ committed to the club and that the Egpytian is ‘essential’ to his plans this season.
“Talk about media stories, nothing to talk about from my point of view he is a Liverpool player,” the German said.
“He is essential and will be. There is nothing there. My life philosophy I think about a problem when I have it.”
On Salah being committed to Liverpool, Klopp added: “100%”.
Klopp discussed the growing power of Saudi Arabian sides in the transfer market, while repeating his view that the Saudi Pro League transfer window – which remains open a week later than the European window – should be aligned with Europe.
“It’s not cool for us, that’s clear. If we want a player from Wigan, say, we go there and we pay the price. Same in Bundesliga etc. Now there’s a next level and it’s not great but this is part of the business. Not sure you can change that.
“What makes it impossible to deal with is our transfer window closes and they stay open. Then we play until Jan 1 and this is our squad, we have that problem. I remember something like this in Russia long time ago. That was not completely crazy money. It’s new and challenging. I am pretty sure FIFA could [change their deadline] like this (clicks finger) but I am not sure they want to.”
