Trabzonspor open talks with Mohamed Salah ahead of proposed move

Trabzonspor have announced they have opened negotiations with Mohamed Salah, with the Turkish club preparing to complete a move for the Egypt forward.

The club said on its official account: “Negotiations have begun regarding the transfer of Mohamed Salah to our club.”

Salah’s proposed arrival in Trabzon is now closer than at any previous stage, with the transfer expected to be officially announced on Wednesday. He is also expected to be presented to supporters on Thursday.

The announcement of negotiations is regarded as a formal preliminary step used by Turkish clubs before a transfer is completed.

Turkish broadcaster HT Spor reported that Salah’s signing ceremony would take place on Thursday at Papara Park, Trabzonspor’s home stadium.

Transfer journalist Yagız Sabuncuoglu, who specialises in the Turkish market, said Trabzonspor had reached a final agreement with Salah. He reported that the 34-year-old had agreed to a two-year contract with the club.

Sabuncuoglu also said Salah was due to arrive in Istanbul at 12:00 local time on Wednesday to sign the contract, before the deal is formally announced.

The Turkish newspaper Sabah had previously reported that Salah was nearing a move to Trabzonspor after the club submitted an improved offer. It said the player would travel to Turkey on Wednesday if he accepted the proposal.

According to that report, Salah would earn an estimated annual salary of 17m euros, in addition to performance-related bonuses. Trabzonspor would provide him with a private aircraft from Greece, where he is spending his holiday, to bring him to Turkey ahead of the announcement.

Turkish website Ajansspor also reported that Trabzonspor had offered Salah a two-season contract. The proposed package includes wages of 17m euros per season, a further 5m euros in bonuses and 20% of shirt sales.

If the transfer is completed as expected, Salah would join Trabzonspor at the start of a demanding period for the club. They are scheduled to play nine matches before the international break in September.

Six of those fixtures are in the Turkish league, including a meeting with Galatasaray on 20 September. Trabzonspor are also due to play three Europa League matches, one of which would be the opening group-stage fixture if they qualify.

The club’s scheduled matches at the beginning of Salah’s expected spell are:

– 15 August: Kasımpasa v Trabzonspor – Turkish league, first round – 20 August: Trabzonspor v winner of Ferencvarosi or Gornik Zabrze – Europa League – 23 August: Trabzonspor v Basaksehir – Turkish league, second round – 27 August: Trabzonspor v winner of Ferencvarosi or Gornik Zabrze – Europa League qualifying play-off second leg – 30 August: Amedspor v Trabzonspor – Turkish league, third round – 6 September: Trabzonspor v Genclerbirligi – Turkish league, fourth round – 13 September: Konyaspor v Trabzonspor – Turkish league, fifth round – 17 September: First group-stage round of the Europa League, if qualified – 20 September: Trabzonspor v Galatasaray – Turkish league, sixth round