Liverpool are staring an unwanted truth directly in the face. Mohamed Salah will leave the club on July 1, 2025, if nothing is done to remedy his contract situation and the Saudi Pro League certainly hope the saga unravels that way.

Negotiations continue to keep all parties happy, but the important factor remains that no agreement is in place. Liverpool, who under strain of multiple factors have allowed the matter to reach this stage, can now be worried with Al-Hilal rearing their head in Salah's direction.

The Saudi Pro League leaders have released their marquee signing, Neymar Jr, from his supposed £86m-per-year contract after an injury-ridden 18 months and now reportedly hope to acquire another.

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Freeing up the funds to do so now puts significant pressure on the Reds as technically Salah is eligible to negotiate with whichever clubs he pleases beyond our borders.

But both Liverpool and their Egyptian talisman are in actual fact no strangers to the desires of the Saudi Pro League. Al-Hilal are one of four in the division owned by the Gulf state's Public Investment Fund, and it was the summer of 2023 that they targeted Salah for another of those four clubs.

Al-Ittihad lodged a £150m offer when the attacker had two years remaining on his current Anfield deal and Liverpool rejected it swiftly. They may have killed the move in doing so, but not the idea.

"First and foremost, Mohamed Salah is one of the best footballers on the planet, Arab or not, he's a phenomenal football player. I've said this before, privately and publicly, we welcome anyone that wants to come and that includes Salah," said Michael Emenalo, sporting director of the Saudi Pro League, in the aftermath of that failed attempt.

"But we have to do things in a very professional and respectful manner because that's what we're there for, this is what the SPL (Saudi Pro League) has been refined to do.

"To bring professionalism, respect of efficiencies and to do things in a competent way, if it didn't happen, it's not because we no longer fancy the player or because we have a problem with Liverpool. It's because there are certain things that need to align for all the parties involved in the process to align."

Emenalo warned: "No one is angry, we move on but we absolutely close no doors, if the opportunity is there to do things, do it well and it brings Mohamed Salah to the Pro League we'll all be very grateful."

And it was a warning left unheeded whilst the 32-year-old's deal ebbed away, whilst Liverpool were in need of an entire midfield rebuild, whilst Jurgen Klopp's departure put emphasis on finding a new management structure, and whilst other important player contracts were poorly timed to require attention simultaneously.

Liverpool have never been more at risk of Salah escaping their grasp, and the Saudi Pro League have never been closer to securing the player they have had they eye on for almost two years.