Mohamed Salah, 33, is set to leave Liverpool as a free agent this summer after reaching an agreement to terminate his contract a year early, with Arsenal reportedly preparing an aggressive move for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt to capitalise on the expiring contract market. According to FootballTransfers, the Egypt international forward will end his nine-year tenure at Anfield following a hamstring injury sustained against Crystal Palace on April 25, which looks to have cut short a final season in which he became the club's third-highest all-time goalscorer with 255 goals.
Arsenal market strategy and the Brandt pursuit
Arsenal are prioritising high-value free agents to bolster Mikel Arteta's midfield, with 29-year-old Julian Brandt identified as a primary target. Reports suggest the North London club is readying an aggressive contract proposal for the German international, who provides the versatile profile Arteta prefers in the 'eight' or 'ten' roles. This shift toward the free-agent market follows recent Premier League Profit and Sustainability trend shifts, where clubs are increasingly looking for top-tier experience without the inflation of transfer fees. While Salah's name has been discussed in broader market updates, Brandt represents the most concrete target for Arsenal as they look to add creative depth alongside Martin Ødegaard.
Salah's future options and Rangers interest
Despite his impending departure, Salah’s next destination remains unconfirmed. Stig Inge Bjørnebye, a football consultant for Rangers, revealed on an Egyptian TV channel that the Scottish club has internally discussed the feasibility of a move. "I don't know what Mo's plans are," Bjørnebye stated, "but we discussed it at work today... we discussed where he'll go." However, San Diego FC in MLS appears a more probable destination due to the franchise's ownership ties with Mohamed Mansour. With Liverpool already scouting 20-year-old Yan Diomande and Juventus' Francisco Conceição as replacements, Salah’s exit marks a significant tactical pivot for a club that has relied on his availability for nearly a decade; prior to his recent hamstring issue, Salah had averaged over 33 starts per league season since 2017.