Fabrizio Romano says £140k-a-week Liverpool player could be tempted into leaving at the end of the season

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Mohamed Salah may not be the only Liverpool player interested in a move to Saudi Arabia next summer.

Salah seems inevitable to be the subject of interest from Pro League sides at the end of the current season. With mega, mega riches on offer, Mo has previously been reported as being open to the idea of a transfer.

Now, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, defender Joel Matip could be another ‘attracted’ to playing in the Middle East.

Matip is currently out injured with an ACL injury. As his Liverpool contract is due to end in six months, there’s uncertainty around what will happen with the 32-year-old next. That has allowed rumours to circulate, with reports this week claiming interest from Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq.

Responding to those rumours for CaughtOffside today, Romano suggested that an end of season move could be tempting for Matip. Joe Gomez was also linked with Gerrard’s side but, thankfully, that’s a firm no.

“Despite talk of a possible move to Al Ettifaq, Joel Matip won’t leave Liverpool now,” reports the journalist. “In the summer it could be different and interest from Saudi can attract him. I also don’t see Joe Gomez leaving, he’s staying.”

Matip Saudi move a possibility

For now, Matip’s focus will be on getting himself back fit. Having been injured in early December, it seems virtually impossible that he’ll play again this season.

But beyond that, the Cameroonian should still have a few years of his career ahead of him.

The way he’d been playing prior to his knee problem, Matip had looked likely to see those out at Liverpool. His form was excellent in the early part of the campaign and he genuinely looked worthy of an extension.

Obviously, the injury has thrown that into doubt now.

However, the suggestion for the time being is that Liverpool will still perhaps offer Matip a new deal. After eight years of brilliant service, the £140k-a-week man shouldn’t be thrown out on the scrapheap whilst still recovering from a serious injury.

Obviously, if he has another move lined up though, you wouldn’t expect the Reds to stand in his way.

If that is the case, then joining the Saudi Pro League might just suit Matip. He’s always been a low-key individual, so you can’t imagine playing in-front of small crowds would bother him too much.

The league is seemingly less physical and less intense, meaning the centre-back could see out his career in relative peace. We’ll be sad to see Matip go, and if he is to leave without playing another game it will feel a little bitter. But sometimes that’s football.