Alisson Becker's Future at Liverpool Threatened by Al-Ittihad's Pursuit
For most of the summer, Liverpool believed they had won the battle to keep Alisson Becker. Juventus circled, Luciano Spalletti pushed for a reunion with the goalkeeper he trusted at Roma in 2016/17, and Liverpool simply shut the door.
Sporting director Richard Hughes quietly triggered a one-year option in Alisson’s contract, extending his deal to 2027 and, in theory, closing down the Italian route. The message was clear: Liverpool’s No 1 was going nowhere.
Now that certainty is cracking.
Saudi Pro League steps in
In Saudi Arabia, the tone is very different. Prominent journalist Mohamed Bukairy claims Al-Ittihad are closing in on a deal to prise Alisson away from Anfield and into the Saudi Pro League.
“Al-Ittihad Club's management is close to signing Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker, the guardian of Liverpool's den and the Samba national team,” Bukairy wrote on X, citing what he described as “reliable sources”.
The proposal on the table is described as “tempting” – an offer of more than €11 million per year. Another Saudi club, newly promoted Al-Diriyah, is also said to be in the race, adding a domestic tug-of-war to Liverpool’s growing problem.
The numbers explain why this is not a story to be brushed aside.
Money, tax and temptation
Alisson is understood to be earning around £150,000 per week on Merseyside. The Saudi package, converted, would edge that up to roughly £179,000 per week in gross terms.
On paper, that is only a modest rise. In practice, once Saudi tax regulations are factored in, the gap widens. For a 33-year-old goalkeeper, already at the top of the European game and with little left to prove, such an offer will test resolve.
The question is no longer whether Saudi clubs can pay. It is whether Liverpool can afford to say no.
Liverpool’s leadership drain
There is another layer to this. Even if Alisson and Al-Ittihad find common ground, Liverpool still hold the strongest card: they must agree to any sale.
Right now, that feels unlikely. The club have already watched key figures walk out of the dressing room this summer. Andy Robertson has gone. Mohamed Salah has gone. Ibrahima Konaté has gone. Each departure strips away another strand of experience, another voice in a squad that has already undergone heavy transition in recent seasons.
Losing Alisson on top of that would not just be a tactical issue. It would be a cultural blow.
The risk behind the safety net
Liverpool do at least have some cover. Giorgi Mamardashvili saw plenty of minutes last season when Alisson was sidelined. The Brazilian has missed a worrying number of matches through injury, and Mamardashvili’s emergence has been one of the few consolations.
But there is a difference between deputising and inheriting the shirt for good. Alisson is not just a shot-stopper; he shapes Liverpool’s entire defensive structure, calms a back line, and has rescued points almost single-handedly across multiple campaigns.
You don’t replace that overnight. You certainly don’t replace it easily in a summer where the market knows you are desperate.
A decision with long shadows
For now, this remains a live possibility rather than a done deal. There is no agreement between clubs, and Liverpool’s stance will define what happens next.
But the pattern is familiar. Saudi clubs identify an elite, experienced player. They make an offer that respects status, pushes salary ceilings and exploits tax advantages. The player listens. The club hesitates. Then comes the moment of truth.
Liverpool have already lost enough leaders. Can they really afford to let their last line of defence walk away as well?
