Liverpool transfer bid turned down as comments about Mohamed Salah spark debate

Salah’s World Cup moment comes with a sting for Liverpool

Liverpool’s summer transfer business and Mohamed Salah’s departure are both back in focus. An offer has arrived for a Reds player from a major European club, while comments from Egypt’s coach have revived questions about how the club handled one of its greatest players.

Several current and former Liverpool players are at the 2026 World Cup, being staged in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Here’s more on the Reds connected to the tournament.

On Sunday, Salah scored as Egypt beat New Zealand 3-1, securing the country’s first World Cup win. For Liverpool fans, seeing him celebrate may have been bittersweet: the 34-year-old left this summer after nine trophy-filled years at Anfield. Salah’s profile and the story of his departure put the moment in context.

There’s a sharper edge to the news today. Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan appeared to criticise what he described as the mismanagement of Salah at Liverpool, while another club has made a fresh offer for a Liverpool player who isn’t at the tournament. The remarks aimed at the Reds and the rejected bid frame a day of news with two very different questions: what Liverpool lost, and what it might yet sell.

Hossam Hassan’s pointed comments

Salah’s performance gave the discussion some force. He was central to Egypt’s comeback win, and his goal moved him to within one of matching Hassan’s national scoring record of 69. That’s a striking return from a player whose quality remains plain; the comments about his treatment at Liverpool are harder to assess from the available details.

Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan was visibly emotional after his team's World Cup victory

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan credited Mohamed Salah’s effort and role in the team after the World Cup victory, saying they had worked to place the forward where his qualities could do the most damage. Salah’s recent season at Liverpool had been clouded by a public dispute with former manager Arne Slot. He also struggled to match the numbers he posted in the campaign that ended with Liverpool winning the [Premier League](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/all-about/barclays-premier-league) title. “I am maybe the first coach to let him play in a position that matches his danger, that matches his capabilities and qualities,” Hassan said. He added that he expected more from Salah. The win clearly carried a deeper weight for Hassan. Fighting back tears, he dedicated it to Egyptians and said his happiness reflected the feelings of millions across the country.

Inter’s bid falls short

Liverpool have rejected a second offer from Inter for Curtis Jones: a £21.7 million proposal that remains well below the club’s reported £35 million valuation. The sides have been negotiating for several weeks, after Liverpool turned down an earlier approach in January. The club are said to be frustrated by Inter’s bids. Liverpool are using Conor Gallagher’s £35 million January move from Atletico Madrid to Tottenham Hotspur as a reference point. That comparison gives the asking price some context, though it doesn’t establish what Inter might ultimately be willing to pay. Jones has made 228 appearances for Liverpool, the club he supported as a boy, since his debut in January 2019. He has also won four England caps and had said he was looking forward to the coming season at Anfield. Still, his future is unresolved. For Liverpool, the decision is whether to keep a homegrown midfielder with a long record at the club or accept an offer that meets their valuation before the summer window closes. The Liverpool Echo’s [dedicated LFC Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/LiverpoolEchoLFC) carries the latest news and analysis from Anfield.