Mohamed Salah moving to the Saudi Pro League could hinge on Neymar's future, with Al-Hilal reportedly approaching the Egyptian's team but unable to afford both him and the Brazilian forward.
Salah will become a free agent in the summer if he cannot agree a new contract with Liverpool and has repeatedly insisted he is far from putting pen to paper.
The 32-year-old has enjoyed had a blistering season with Liverpool after netting 18 goals in 20 Premier League games but looks certain to leave Anfield for nothing as things stand, and a move to the Middle East has been heavily mooted.
French outlet L'Equipe have reported that Al-Hilal are stepping up their efforts to sign Salah after Al-Ittihad saw a £150million bid rejected in 2023, though Saudi Pro League registration rules may complicate the deal.
There is an "expectation" that former PSG star Neymar will leave the club this summer following a disastrous two years, which would free up a space for Salah in their limited roster of foreign players, as well as giving them more breathing room in their wage budget.
With no agreement for Salah currently on the table, a move to Saudi looks most likely. Influential Turki Alalshikh - who heads up the Saudi General Entertainment Authority and has been influential in the country's lucrative boxing events - stoked the flames over a move after posting a picture of Salah wearing an Al-Hilal kit on social media.
A report from the Sun has claimed Alalshikh has already made it clear that Al-Hilal are interested in making an offer for Salah, with the club willing to offer him a two-year deal worth around £65m - though no concrete bid has been made.
It is likely he would replace Neymar, who has only played seven times since joining the club for around £77m in 2023 after struggling with a succession of injuries, including a cruciate ligament tear.
Recent reports from ESPN claimed that Neymar was in preliminary talks with three MLS teams - and that the Brazil international was hopeful he could reunite with former Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.
Chicago Fire are understood to be one of the teams in the running to sign the superstar after Miami boss Javier Mascherano appeared to rule out the move by saying it would be "impossible" due to the MLS salary cap.
However, we've already seen MLS chiefs break the bank to ensure Messi went to Miami - with tech giant Apple bankrolling the deal and after his close friend Luis Suarez joined the club. It's not out of the question that they would appease the Argentine star by signing another of his former team-mates.