Despite having failed all expectations in his last stint in the Premier League, Merseyside giants Liverpool are thought to be gunning a move for Roma’s Egyptian winger and former Chelsea star Mohamed Salah.
The 24-year-old Salah was touted to be the next Arjen Robben when the flamboyant winger signed on with Chelsea back in January 2014 from Swiss side Basel for a fee thought to be in the range of £11-million.
From there, the Basyoun City native made 11 appearances during the 2013-14 season, scoring two goals. Salah’s performances were adjudged to be subpar but many chose to give him leeway given he’s come in midway through the season.
However, it soon became apparent that Salah was not fit for the rigours of the Premier League. In the following season, the former Basel player made only eight appearances for Chelsea in total without scoring a single goal. This forced Chelsea to ship Salah out on loan the following year to Fiorentina, where Salah found some measure of success although Chelsea sold him anyway to Roma in 2016.
Now, fast-forward to the 2017-18 pre-season, it appears another Premier League side have been tantalised with the prospect of gambling once again on the Egyptian international.
According to inside sources in England, Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp is thought to be a big fan of the Egypt international and is willing to give the Roma wide man the chance to redeem himself. Indeed, Liverpool have already tabled a bid for Salah, although the actual figure offered is yet to be ascertained.
The news has been confirmed by former Spanish footballer and current Roma sporting director Monchi, who said in a recent interview, “There is an offer for Momo [Salah] from an English club and we’ll decide what price to set depending on the circumstances.”
Monchi, however, was quick to quell any notions his club will give in to Liverpool’s demands so easily.
“As I’ve said before, Roma is not a supermarket. We want to build the best possible squad,” the club official maintained.
With speculation mounting that Roma may ask a fee for Salah upwards of £30-million, is it really worth it? Or is Liverpool about to throw money down the drain?
The signs are optimistic. After all, Salah did manage 19 goals and assisted 15 more in 41 appearances for Roma across all competitions last season. Many pundits have noted that the player has improved – he has more pace and flair in his movement, and his work rate has been commendable, helping Roma reach second place in the Serie A last season.
Then again, could Salah manage to replicate his form in the Premier League – a stage he has already failed in? While the drive to redeem himself may well just push him to prove his doubters wrong, Salah is definitely a big gamble for Liverpool, one that could backfire on them with dire consequences.