Besiktas talks with Mohamed Salah stall over financial demands

Besiktas football director Onder Özen has revealed negotiations with Egypt and former Liverpool star Mohammed Salah have been placed on hold due to disagreements over financial terms.

Salah has been without a club since officially ending his legendary spell with Liverpool on June 30, with several teams from Saudi Arabia, the United States and Turkey reportedly interested in securing the services of one of the world’s most recognised footballers.

In recent weeks, Besiktas emerged as a surprising contender for the Egyptian captain, with reports suggesting that the Turkish giants were working on a deal to bring Salah to Istanbul. However, no agreement has been reached, with financial issues reportedly becoming the main obstacle.

Speaking at a press conference, Özen addressed the speculation surrounding Salah and explained the club’s approach to the negotiations, insisting that Besiktas had carefully studied the sporting and commercial impact of signing the global star.

“There has been a lot of speculation surrounding Mohamed Salah for some time now. This issue has been discussed from all angles. There are things we want to clarify regarding this story,” Özen said as quoted by Turkish newspaper Fanatik.

“We contacted Mohamed Salah, and that included the financing system. He is a global star and a distinguished athlete. We conducted a marketing study about him: how many shirts will be sold? How many will be consumed abroad?” Özen explained.

According to the football director, Besiktas held several meetings with Salah and his representatives before entering detailed discussions over financial aspects of the proposed agreement.

“We contacted him three times before discussing the financial aspect of the negotiations. We met with him twice to explain the project, while the coach met with him once to discuss tactical matters,” he added.

Özen admitted that negotiations progressed positively during the initial stages, but the situation changed once financial demands became the main focus.

“Up until that point, things went smoothly, but since we started discussing the financial aspect, the pace of negotiations slowed down starting on July 21.”

The Besiktas director claimed that additional demands related to image rights contributed to the breakdown in momentum, although he acknowledged that Salah’s representatives have the right to negotiate financial conditions.

“His agent has the right to ask for a commission, but exceeding it is not legal. I think a distinguished athlete like Mohamed Salah was unaware of this,” he said.

Özen stressed that Besiktas have a strict financial structure and will not compromise their principles in order to complete a high-profile signing.

“The club has a firm policy that cannot be deviated from. Our president clarified his position and adhered to it,” he stated.

He added that club president and management decided to temporarily step away from negotiations rather than make what he described as a decision based on public pressure.

“The Mohamed Salah deal is currently on hold,” Özen confirmed.

Despite the current situation, Besiktas remain open to reviving the talks if Salah accepts their existing proposal.

“Our offer stands, we will not make any other offers. We decided not to back down from our position. The last offer is the maximum that can be offered without violating the club’s policy,” Özen explained.

The Turkish club official also praised Salah’s qualities, admitting that he would welcome the arrival of a player of his calibre if the financial conditions become acceptable.

“I really enjoyed watching Mohamed Salah. If we receive a positive response to our offer, the process will continue,” he said.

However, Özen made it clear that the final financial decisions are handled by the club’s management, while his own responsibility remains focused on technical and tactical matters.

“I am responsible for the club’s technical and tactical policies, while other matters are the responsibility of our managers. I don’t know how to negotiate; it’s not my area of expertise,” he added.

Besiktas are also being cautious because of their financial limitations, with Özen explaining that the club cannot compete with unlimited spending power.

“We all know the club’s financial structure. Our revenue from UEFA is very limited. We do not want to enter the transfer market under those restrictions at the highest price,” he said.

He pointed out that the club has only made exceptional financial commitments for a small number of players in recent years, using Leandro Trossard as an example.

As the transfer window approaches its final stages, Besiktas believe market conditions could change, potentially creating new opportunities.

“We have to wait for the lowest prices. There are changes happening daily in that regard as the end of the transfer window approaches,” Özen concluded.

For now, Salah’s potential move to Turkey remains uncertain, with Besiktas refusing to increase their offer while waiting for a response from the Egyptian forward’s camp. The coming weeks will determine whether the Turkish giants can pull off one of the biggest transfers in their history or whether Salah will choose another destination.