Why Liverpool Fans Should Be Excited By Salah’s Arrival
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp vowed to make ambitious signings prior to next campaign following huge criticism for not expanding his squad size during last winter. The Reds, however, are already active in the transfer market as promised and a qualification for 2017-18 Champions League competition is supporting them to make audacious bids for top targets of Europe.
If reports from several outlets are believed to be true, Liverpool are closing in on AS Roma winger Mohamed Salah who will cost them around £35million, making him the club’s most extensive player if signed. Although they are believed to break their transfer record repeatedly for other targets, the Egyptian international would be one of the most shrewd signings for the Merseysiders.
Salah, 24, was high on Liverpool’s priority list back in the winter of 2014. The player too was interested in the move from FC Basel, but the negotiations took way too long and Chelsea acquired his services in the meantime. Salah revealed,
“Negotiations took a long time, because Basel rejected more than one offer. They felt the transfer fee was not that high. I was waiting for Liverpool because I really like Liverpool. I was eager to join them. But then I received a phone call from Mourinho and that changed everything. He explained the situation to me and told me that he needed me at Chelsea. That was one of the main reasons why I joined Chelsea. Mourinho told me that he thought I was a good player and that he wanted me to pick Chelsea.”
However, the winger struggled to get enough first-team opportunities in a star-studded Chelsea side and was loaned to Serie A outfit Fiorentina. He eventually flourished for the Viola and his impressive form earned him high acknowledgements from Serie A rivals.
In spite of Fiorentina’s efforts to sign him permanently, Salah forced a move to league rivals AS Roma and was named I Giallorossi’s Player of the Season due to his incredible scoring run. His move was made permanent prior to 2015-16 season and he replicated his supremacy netting 19 and assisting 12 times in 41 appearances altogether.
Salah was not the primary transfer target of Liverpool despite Jurgen Klopp’s longing to add a wide player. Julian Brandt, the Bayer Leverkusen winger was his priority, but the German international refrained from a move due to uncertainty of first team football. The Reds, thus shifted their focus to the decorated Egyptian who is ecstatic about the move and ready to ply his trade to Merseyside finally.
Salah, who predominantly operates from the right wing, is hailed for his blistering speed, strong left foot, dribbling, vision, techniques and goal-scoring traits. His playing style resembles Liverpool’s Sadio Mane who won their Player of the Year award due to his sublime form in his first season for the Reds. Both Salah and Mane operate from the right flank. However, they are expected to start together on the wings and switch positions accordingly. He is a perfect inclusion for Klopp’s ‘gegenpressing’ and the speedster will be a massive threat from counter attacks with his sprints, pace and finishing attributes.
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