Spanish club Eldense could take another look at signing Al Ahly player Mahmoud Salah in the January transfer window. The club reportedly tried to sign the young Egyptian during the summer, but the move stalled.
Eldense sporting director Víctor Lafuente said the Spanish side made an official offer for Salah while the player was still at Egyptian club Ghazl El Mahalla. In comments published by Arabic-language Egyptian outlet Sawt Al-Ahly on 23 October, Lafuente explained that the talks stopped because of issues linked to financial fair play rules.
Lafuente did not rule out making a new approach in January. However, he said Eldense would first need to review the player’s current situation and check all the details before making a decision. His remarks show that Salah remains a possible option on the club’s radar, though Eldense have not submitted a new bid.
Eldense’s summer approach stalled
According to Lafuente, Salah was one of Eldense’s transfer targets during the summer window. The club sent a formal offer to Ghazl El Mahalla, but negotiations did not move forward.
The sporting director did not share the financial value of that summer bid. He also did not name the specific financial rule that halted the talks. In addition, there is no public confirmation of whether Ghazl El Mahalla accepted the offer or whether Eldense agreed on personal terms with Salah.
These missing details are important because financial fair play rules cover several different areas of club spending. Without more information from Eldense or the other parties involved, it is too early to say whether the club could not afford the transfer fee or whether league officials blocked the deal.
Al Ahly now hold Salah’s contract
The transfer picture changed in August when Al Ahly signed Salah from Ghazl El Mahalla on a five-season deal. The Cairo club confirmed the transfer in an official announcement published on 14 August.
That long-term contract makes a potential January signing much harder for Eldense than it was in the summer. Any future move would require direct approval from Al Ahly and terms that suit both the Egyptian club and the player.
So far, Al Ahly have made no public statement suggesting they are open to selling or loaning Salah just months after bringing him to Cairo. Salah has also not said publicly that he wants to move to Spain. No transfer fee, loan offer, or contract terms have been reported for a possible January deal, and Lafuente’s comments do not confirm that Eldense have opened talks with Al Ahly.
Messi’s Eldense project adds an international angle
Eldense’s transfer plans have drawn wider international attention since Lionel Messi moved to take over the club. On 1 October, Eldense announced that the Argentine forward had acquired the club as part of a long-term plan to grow its sporting, institutional, and community operations.
In its official ownership announcement, Eldense noted that the takeover still required formal authorisation from Spain’s Higher Sports Council. That statement made no mention of Salah or individual transfer targets.
There is no evidence that Messi personally asked the club to sign the Egyptian player. Because the comments about Salah came from Lafuente, the interest is part of the sporting director’s recruitment work rather than a personal request from the club’s prospective owner.
Eldense currently play in Spain’s second division, where the recruitment team must balance new signings against the club’s budget and squad needs. It remains unclear whether Salah will fit into those plans when the winter window opens.
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What could happen in January?
Three main questions will shape what happens next. First, Eldense must decide whether to make a fresh approach after assessing Salah’s move to Al Ahly. Second, Al Ahly would have to decide if they are willing to let a recent signing leave halfway through the season. Third, the two clubs would need to find a financial agreement that works for both sides.
Lafuente’s comments make Salah a player to watch ahead of the winter market, but a transfer is not close. Eldense made their previous offer when the player was still at Ghazl El Mahalla, and the financial issues that stopped those summer talks remain unexplained.
At the time of writing, neither club has confirmed a new bid or fresh negotiations. Until Eldense make official contact with Al Ahly or either club issues a formal statement on Salah’s future, a January transfer remains only a possibility.
