Mohamed Salah's Transfer Drama: Besiktas vs. Trabzonspor

For weeks, it looked like the story was written. Mohamed Salah, the Liverpool great whose goals lit up Anfield for seven years, was heading to Istanbul and a fresh start with Besiktas.

Now the script has been torn up.

Besiktas, who thought they had their man, have seen their move dramatically derailed, with league rivals Trabzonspor stepping in late and, by all accounts, stepping in hard.

From Anfield Icon to Free Agent Prize

Liverpool and Salah agreed to part company this summer, a clean break with one year still left on his huge contract. The numbers at Anfield were eye-watering: around £400,000 a week for a player who, at his peak, was worth every penny.

In his prime, Salah wasn’t just prolific. He was devastating. A luxury, yes, but a luxury Liverpool could justify because of the avalanche of goals and assists he delivered season after season.

Last term, that calculation changed. The output dipped. The defensive work, never his strongest suit, suddenly stood out in the wrong way. Liverpool chose evolution over sentiment and turned the page.

That decision instantly turned Salah into one of the most intriguing free agents on the market.

Saudi Arabia watched. MLS watched. But Besiktas acted.

Besiktas Make Their Move… Then Freeze

The Istanbul giants pushed hardest, putting a concrete offer on the table while others weighed up the numbers. For a while, it felt like a formality. Turkey beckoned, and Besiktas were clearing the runway.

They had a verbal agreement with Salah’s camp: a 1+1-year deal worth €10m net per season plus €2m in bonuses. A heavyweight package, tailored for a superstar in the final phase of his European career.

Then Saturday morning changed everything.

French reporter Santi Aouna and Turkish journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu both reported the same thing: Besiktas were no longer alone. Trabzonspor had entered the race — and not quietly.

By the end of the day, Besiktas had done something that would have been unthinkable only days earlier.

They suspended negotiations.

Officially. Indefinitely.

Trabzonspor Go All-In

Trabzonspor didn’t turn up to make up the numbers. They arrived with intent and a clear plan.

Sabuncuoğlu revealed that the club had already met Salah’s representative and laid out their offer in full: a two-year contract and a salary of €17m per year.

On current exchange rates, that’s roughly £280,000 a week. Not quite Liverpool money, but a huge wage for the Turkish market and a clear signal of how badly Trabzonspor want him.

The talks moved quickly. According to Sabuncuoğlu, Salah’s agent relayed the details directly to the player. The early feedback from the Salah camp? Positive. Not done, not signed, but leaning the right way for Trabzonspor.

Salah will now consult with his family before making the final call. At this stage of his career, that matters as much as the size of the contract.

Hijacked Deal, Shifting Power

Aouna’s update underlined just how far this has gone. He described Trabzonspor as “close to hijacking” the deal, with advanced negotiations ongoing and a full agreement with the player edging into view.

The impact has been immediate. Besiktas, who had already shaken hands on terms with Salah’s side, have hit pause. Their €10m-per-year net package plus €2m in bonuses now sits in limbo while their rival closes in with a richer, longer proposal.

This is not just a transfer battle. It’s a power play inside Turkish football.

Besiktas thought they were about to unveil one of the most high-profile signings in their recent history. Trabzonspor have stepped in late, raised the stakes, and dragged the deal into their orbit.

If they pull it off, they don’t just sign a global star. They land a psychological blow on one of the country’s traditional heavyweights.

A Legend at a Crossroads

Salah’s decision will define the next chapter of his career. He can chase the money in Saudi Arabia, explore a new frontier in MLS, or become the centrepiece of a major project in Turkey.

Right now, the clearest, most aggressive offer sits on the table in Trabzon.

Two years. €17m a season. A leading role in a club desperate to punch above its weight, domestically and in Europe.

Besiktas wait, their negotiations frozen. Trabzonspor push, sensing a rare chance to change their own story with one signature.

Liverpool have already moved on. The Premier League will adjust to life without one of its most ruthless forwards.

The question now is simple: when Mohamed Salah finally picks up the pen, will the signature line read Besiktas… or Trabzonspor?