Sporting Kansas City's president of soccer operations David Lee was asked directly whether his club want Mohamed Salah. He didn't say no. That's the most telling thing to happen in the Salah saga this week — and in transfer negotiations, a non-denial is practically a declaration of interest.
"We are interested in really good players," Lee said. "Anyone we think can be a fit for us and is going to fit what we would like to do, we have an interest in and would like to have a conversation with." Careful, corporate, and deliberately non-committal — but he had an easy out and didn't take it.
Liverpool's summer in context
Meanwhile, the club Salah left behind is in a state of transition that goes well beyond one departure. Arne Slot is gone. Andoni Iraola is in charge now, and the squad he's inherited looks considerably different from the one that challenged for the title not long ago.
Andy Robertson left on a free to Tottenham. Ibrahima Konate's contract ran out and he's now at Real Madrid. Victor Munoz arrived from Osasuna — a Spanish winger who reached the World Cup final — and Jeremy Jacquet completed a £60 million move from Rennes that was agreed back in January. Two ins, three significant outs. The rebuild is real, and Liverpool's title odds this coming season will reflect that uncertainty.
Salah's void is the one that's hardest to quantify. Robertson and Konate were important. Salah was irreplaceable in ways that don't show up until the goals stop coming and the chances dry up. Whoever fills that right side has an uncomfortable amount to prove from day one.
Larouci finds a home in France
On the quieter end of the Liverpool news cycle, Yasser Larouci has signed for Le Mans, who earned promotion to Ligue 1 last season. Larouci joined Liverpool from Le Havre as a teenager in 2017, was part of their 2019 FA Youth Cup-winning squad, and got a senior debut under Jurgen Klopp in an FA Cup derby win over Everton in 2020 — coming on for an injured James Milner.
He never broke through at first-team level, left in 2021, and has since moved around: Troyes, loan spells at Sheffield United, Watford, and Greek side Kifisia. Le Mans are his third summer signing. At 25, he's got a chance to finally settle somewhere with genuine top-flight minutes on offer.
For now, the real story is Salah — and the clock is ticking on where he lands before pre-season gets serious.
