Newcastle United owners linked to shock Mohamed Salah accusation ahead of Liverpool clash

Former Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam believes Al Ittihad’s interest in Mohamed Salah could be a ploy from Newcastle United’s owners to unsettle the winger ahead of Sunday’s clash.

The Magpies welcome Jurgen Klopp’s side to St James’ Park tomorrow and in the build-up to the fixture, Salah’s future has been under speculation amid Al Ittihad’s renewed efforts to sign the Egyptian.

Al Ittihad are one of four Saudi Pro League teams 70 per-cent owned by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, who are Newcastle’s majority owners with an 80 per-cent stake. PCP Partners and RB Sports & Media each hold a 10 per-cent stake.

And according to Adam, PIF could be out to unnerve Salah in order to gain an advantage in favour of Newcastle.

“I don’t believe he will go,” Adam told talkSPORT. “They are playing Newcastle this weekend, there is a bit of the Saudi-backed Newcastle situation.

“Maybe that’s something – they’re just trying to ignite the flame before the match and try to unsettle Salah.

“They know that Jurgen Klopp, all of the questions he’s going to get today [Friday] in his press conference will be about Salah and Saudi Arabia. And it’s maybe a bit of mind games as well, I was reading reports that this club were confident they were going to get Mo Salah.

“I don’t believe it’s going to be anywhere close, I don’t believe Liverpool will sell him. Is [Kylian] Mbappe the one that can replace him? I don’t think that Liverpool will be interested in selling Mo Salah – especially in this window.”

Reports have suggested Al Ittihad are willing to double Salah’s wages but Klopp insists the 31-year-old is not for sale.

“There is nothing to talk about, he is a Liverpool player,” said the German. “He is essential and will be. There is nothing there. My life philosophy [is] I think about a problem when I have it.”

Earlier this month Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, distanced the Egypt forward from a move to Saudi Arabia. “If we considered leaving [Liverpool] this year, we wouldn’t have renewed the contract last summer,” Issa tweeted. “Mohamed remains committed to LFC.”