According to Turkish sports broadcaster A Spor, Fenerbahce board member Ertan Torunoğulları personally led the discussions with Salah's camp, pitching the club's ambitions and attempting to secure a commitment before Saudi Arabian and MLS suitors could make their case.
A third meeting had been pencilled in but was shelved after Fenerbahce suffered a 3-0 derby defeat to Galatasaray on 26 April, which triggered the sacking of head coach Domenico Tedesco and president Sadettin Saran calling early board elections.
The outgoing administration has frozen major financial commitments — including both pursuits — to allow the incoming board to set next season's budget. Until elections are concluded, progress is unlikely.
On Salah, the central sticking point is money. His camp is understood to be requesting an annual salary of €20 million, a figure that has no precedent in the Süper Lig and has divided opinion within Fenerbahce over whether to stretch the wage structure or spread funds across multiple signings.
What is clear is that Salah is prioritising a European future. His representatives reportedly told Fenerbahce that a Saudi Arabian move is not currently under consideration, with the 33-year-old determined to remain competitive ahead of the World Cup in North America this summer.
Interest from elsewhere is extensive — Egypt's national team director Ibrahim Hassan confirmed he had heard of approaches from PSG, Bayern Munich and clubs in Italy.
Salah will leave Liverpool on a free transfer after announcing the mutual termination of his contract in March. He has scored 12 goals and provided nine assists across 38 appearances this season. A minor hamstring injury kept him out of last weekend's match at Manchester United, but the club confirmed he is expected to return before the final day.
Robertson's situation is more advanced elsewhere. The 31-year-old Scotland captain has reached a basic agreement in principle with Tottenham Hotspur, where he would provide experienced cover at left back. That deal, however, is contingent on Spurs securing their Premier League status — the north London club currently sit two points below the safety line with four games remaining, and Robertson's representatives are understood to be monitoring other options in case the Tottenham move collapses.
Both players joined Liverpool in 2017 and have been central figures across two title-winning campaigns and the 2019 Champions League triumph. Robertson has made over 330 appearances for the club and will be remembered as one of the most consistent left backs of his generation. Whether either ends up in Istanbul remains dependent on events far beyond the transfer negotiating table.