It would be fair to describe Mo Salah’s 2025 as a rollercoaster.
He spent the first half of it signing off on one of the greatest seasons in Premier League history.
Salah became the first player in EPL history to win the Golden Boot, Playmaker Award (for most assists) and PFA Player of the Year in the same season – the Egyptian delivering 45 goal involvements as Liverpool romped to the title.
It was a campaign that probably ought to have won him the Ballon d’Or – that went to Ousmane Dembele instead, but even so Salah, having enjoyed a good rest over the summer, set about reaching new heights in the second half of 2025.
Well, it hasn’t quite worked out like that, has it?
Under the Bus
Liverpool started the 2025/26 campaign in a manner that was hardly befitting of a reigning champion.
They were dropping points left, right and centre, with Salah – who had seemingly lost his magic touch – becoming something of a scapegoat for the Reds’ woes in the final third of the pitch.
Things reached a head in November when Liverpool boss Arne Slot dropped the 33-year-old from his first team for a game against West Ham, which the Reds won 2-0.
That was enough to convince the Dutchman to keep Salah amongst his subs for the following weeks, with Slot describing his maestro as a ‘top professional’.
But Salah wasn’t happy, and the veil of top professionalism slipped in an interview in which he described Liverpool as having ‘thrown him under the bus’.
“I can’t believe I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes,” he said.
“The third time on the bench, I think for the first time in my career. I’m very, very disappointed.
“It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame.”
Those are not exactly the words of a happy man, and while Salah was restored to the action just prior to Christmas and assisted Hugo Ekitike in a 2-0 victory over Brighton.
Was that a Christmassy olive branch or merely a way for the Egyptian to wave goodbye to his Liverpool career? At the time of writing, he’s off on AFCON duty with his country – finding the net, too, as his side progressed to the knockout phase.
While Salah is away on AFCON duty, the transfer window slides open. Could he be sold on by Liverpool? It would be a seismic moment for the club and the fans would be up in arms you suspect, but an unhappy 33-year-old on a rumoured £400,000 a week has to be treated as something of a liability.
So what are the bookies saying about Salah’s future?
Mo Salah Next Club Odds
This is one of the most interesting betting markets around, as there’s very little consensus on what the future holds for the slippery winger.
Some bookies are adamant that he’ll stay in their pricing, with quotes as short as 1/5 that Salah will still be at Anfield come the end of the January transfer window.
But other firms aren’t so sure. Some have the odds a tad longer at 3/10, while they make it a 15/8 chance that Salah joins any Saudi Arabian club this January.
The most likely of the Saudi clubs to come in for the Egyptian appears to be Al-Hilal, whose owner – Prince Alwaleed bin Talal – is not short of a few quid.
Salah’s old Liverpool mucker, Darwin Nunez, is on the books of Al-Hilal, as is former Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves, ex Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo and former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
At 12/1, Inter Miami are an intriguing proposition. Such a move would pair Salah with Lionel Messi, while living in Florida comes with its own perks too. However, Major League Soccer clubs have to adhere to strict salary caps, so how they would have two mega stars on their books at the same time?
Inter Miami owner, David Beckham, would have to get his abacus out.
Big spending Galatasaray, Bayern Munich and another Saudi club, Al-Nassr, are other possibilities, but a move to another Premier League club seems an impossibility.
But if you think Salah is going to return to Liverpool in January and reach his former heights, he’s a cool 12/1 to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or.