After weeks of speculation, Merseyside giants Liverpool have finally made official the signing of prolific winger and Egypt international Mohamed Salah from Italian heavyweights Roma.
Salah completed his medical Thursday and was announced on the club’s website the same day.
The Premier League side have reportedly parted ways with an initial fee of £37-million to ensure to deal pushes through. According to insiders, the deal also includes potential bonuses and add-ons which could ramp up Salah’s value to a grand total of £44-million.
“Mohamed has the perfect mix of experience and potential – this is a really exciting signing for us,” said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on the club’s official website.
“He knows the Premier League, he has pedigree in the Champions League and he is one of the most important players for his country.
“His record in Italy has been outstanding and he possesses qualities that will enhance our team and squad. I have followed him since he emerged at Basel and he has matured into a really good player,” the charismatic German tactician added.
Salah, for his part, has declared his enthusiasm upon returning to the Premier League, saying, “I’m very excited to be here. I’m very happy.
“I would like to win something with the club. Everyone knows the club is very big. We have to do something for the fans and win something,” the former Chelsea wide man said further.
Salah a huge gamble for Klopp
Salah’s tainted history in the Premier League with London stalwarts Chelsea should prompt Klopp into making sure he gets the most out of the Egyptian winger.
Indeed, the Egypt international was touted to be the next great winger, the successor to Eden Hazard when he came to Stamford Bridge from Swiss side Basel four years ago. Salah cost Chelsea £11-million back in 2014, but only made 19 appearances in total for the Blues, scoring two goals – a wasteful £5.5-million per goal.
Now the former Blue is back on English soil and the crosshairs of the media will be on him like never before. While he did enjoy a fruitful two-year spell with Roma, the ultimate test remains to be the Premier League.
Liverpool need not look far to know the consequences of this failed venture: Memphis Depay came to Old Trafford with much hype because of his sensational performances in the Eredivisie the season prior, but he eventually fell short of expectations and he was shipped out in unceremonious fashion, gaining criticism from fans and pundits alike.
If Salah repeats his failures at Chelsea, all responsibility will be on Klopp’s shoulders.