Istanbul: Mohamed Salah, the captain of the Egyptian national team, has imposed a financial demand that could potentially hinder his transfer deal with Turkish club Besiktas for the 2026-2027 season following his exit from Liverpool FC.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the 34-year-old Salah has attracted interest from several clubs in Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Turkey as they evaluate his next career move. The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has notably expressed a strong interest in acquiring Salah since last season, willing to invest a significant sum to entice him to a prominent club in the Turkish Super Lig during the ongoing summer transfer window.

Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu reports that while Salah favors a move to Besiktas, he is demanding an annual salary of £15 million. This demand presents a major challenge for the Turkish club, complicating the potential transfer. Sabuncuoglu further revealed that Salah's agent has been in Istanbul for several days, engaging with Besiktas management to negotiate an agreement, though the financial demands remain the primary obstacle in solidifying the transfer.

The journalist also noted that Salah's agent's presence in Istanbul coincides with lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia, indicating that Salah and his representatives are weighing all available options before reaching a conclusion. Sabuncuoglu concluded by suggesting that if Salah does not secure a favorable offer from Turkish clubs soon, the Saudi league is likely to become his next destination, given its clubs' robust financial capacity to meet his salary demands.

It is important to mention that Mohamed Salah played a pivotal role in leading the Egyptian national team to the Round of 16 in the 2016 FIFA World Cup finals, marking an unprecedented achievement in the country's football history.