Liverpool transfer news: Al-Hilal target Mohamed Salah as Napoli eye Reds star - The Mirror

Mohamed Salah is one of three players who could leave Liverpool on a free transfer at the end of the season, while Federico Chiesa has been linked with a loan move away from Anfield

Liverpool are set for a busy January, with the futures of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold still up in the air.

The trio are all out of contract at the end of the season and are now able to negotiate with non-English clubs. Reds boss Arne Slot will be keen to ensure the speculation over their futures does not affect what has been an excellent season so far.

Liverpool are six points clear at the top of the Premier League and are also top of the revamped league phase of the Champions League. However, they have suffered setbacks in their last two games, drawing 2-2 with Manchester United and the losing 1-0 to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup.

Here, Mirror Football takes a look at the latest rumours coming out of Anfield.

Al-Hilal target Salah

According to Spanish outlet AS, Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal are targeting Mohamed Salah as a potential replacement for Neymar.

Salah has long been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, with Liverpool rejecting a £100million bid for the forward from Al-Ittihad back in 2023. The report states that Neymar could leave Al-Hilal when his contract expires and Salah is their top target to replace him.

It is claimed there have been no talks between Al-Hilal and Neymar about a new deal and the Brazilian's former club Santos and David Beckham's Inter Miami both want to sign him on a free transfer.

Napoli eye Chiesa

Napoli have opened talks with Liverpool about a loan move for Federico Chiesa, who has made just one league appearance so far this season.

According to Footmercato, Napoli boss Antonio Conte is pushing to bring Chiesa back to Serie A and they are set to make a formal bid in the coming days. Chiesa's agent, Fali Ramadani, is said to have held a meeting with Liverpool last week where it was agreed the forward could leave on loan this month.

When asked about Chiesa's lack of gametime last month, Slot said: "We are working on his match fitness and whenever we can, we try to bring him on the bench with the team. But he was on the bench during the week and we thought it was better for him to have some extra training sessions instead of joining us, so it's a constant balance we have to find between getting him fitter and fitter and letting him join the team."

Ex-Reds star to join Schalke

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius is set to join Schalke, having considered an early retirement at the age of 31.

Karius made 49 appearances for Liverpool between 2016 and 2022 and was most recently at Newcastle, where acted as a backup to Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka. According to Sky Sports Germany, Karius is now set to join Schalke on a short-term deal with their backup goalkeeper Thorben Hoffmann expected to join Eintracht Braunschweig.

It comes after Karius told Sport Bible in November: "If you've been out for as long as I have then you obviously have to consider retirement. I haven't made a decision yet because there's no need to. I'm still fit. I still have all the potential and the ability."

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