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Sports
The Saudi Pro League announced updated criteria for its player recruitment program, while speculation continues about Mohamed Salah's potential move from Liverpool.
The Saudi Pro League has outlined a revamped player recruitment strategy, unveiling four measurable criteria for budget allocation during a press conference on Wednesday. The announcement comes as speculation intensifies over whether Liverpool star Mohamed Salah could be among the next high-profile arrivals in the kingdom.
Chief executive Omar Al-Mugharbel described the second phase of the program as an evolution rather than a departure from the previous approach, emphasizing that the core concept remains building on proven successes. The initiative will run until 2030 under the new framework, with all signings tied to clubs' technical needs within a governance structure aimed at improving deal quality and competitiveness.
Al-Mugharbel detailed how the budget will be distributed across four measurable standards. The "equal share" component, accounting for 22 percent, is granted uniformly to all clubs. A second criterion, also representing 22 percent, relates to domestic sporting performance and is based on clubs' average league standings over the past three seasons.
The largest portions of the budget—28 percent each—are allocated to television viewership and commercial performance, reflecting a clear priority on maximizing the league's marketing and fan engagement returns.
When asked about global figures recently linked to the league, including Mohamed Salah, Robert Lewandowski, and managers Jürgen Klopp and Lionel Scaloni, Al-Mugharbel stressed that the program currently focuses exclusively on players. Decisions regarding coaching appointments remain solely within each club's jurisdiction.
Previous media reports have indicated that Salah has drawn interest from several Saudi clubs, including Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr, and Al-Qadsiah, ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window. The Egyptian forward is widely expected to leave Liverpool this summer as his contract winds down, keeping his name central to discussions about potential marquee additions to the Saudi league.
