Liverpool Transfer News: Latest on Mohamed Salah's Real Madrid Rumours

The president of the Egyptian Football Association, Hany Abo Rida, and Pharaohs manager Hector Cuper have both added fuel to rumours linking Liverpool star Mohamed Salah with La Liga giants Real Madrid.

As reported by MailOnline's Sam McEvoy, both said they have knowledge of Real's interest in the Egypt international, and the former said a summer transfer would be a good thing for football in the country:

''Real Madrid will make an offer for Salah during the summer.

''Salah is now looking to improve his game. Obviously if an Egyptian plays for a club as popular around the world as Real Madrid, it's going to be great for Egyptian football.''

The news was not well-received in Liverpool:

Salah had been linked with Los Blancos before, per Diario Gol (via the Daily Express' Jack Otway). 

The Egyptian only joined Liverpool during the summer after a superb spell in Italy with AS Roma. The 25-year-old previously fell short of expectations with Chelsea, but he showed everyone during his time with the Giallorossi that the Blues perhaps should have given him more chances.

Now back in England, he's been nothing short of sensational, per the UEFA Champions League's official Twitter account:

Salah has always been a tremendous athlete with great speed and short-area quickness, but he became a far more intelligent player in Italy and now boasts a versatile skill set. He can operate on either wing and is also effective cutting inside on either foot.

While he's still at his best in open space―making him a great fit for Liverpool's counter-attacking system―the 25-year-old no longer has to rely on his pace to score goals, and it's easy to see why a club such as Real Madrid may have interest.

Los Blancos trail rivals Barcelona by 19 points in La Liga, with a match in hand, and have scored just 39 goals in the competition so far, compared to the Catalans' 57.

Christian Thompson/Associated Press

Cristiano Ronaldo isn't getting any younger and Gareth Bale's fitness remains an issue. Combined with Karim Benzema's poor form, the Spaniards are in dire need of an attacking upgrade, and Salah will likely be one of the names on their list.

Convincing the Reds to sell won't be easy, however. Liverpool only just parted with Philippe Coutinho after a lengthy transfer saga and, as a result, have bags of cash and no need to sell another key player.

Salah has shown a willingness to force a club's hand in the past, refusing to return to Fiorentina in order to facilitate a move to AS Roma, per Football Italia. A similar scenario involving Real could play out if he's eager to move, but there has been no indication that's the case.